EWL Beijing+20 in November: Violence against Women in Europe
[Brussels, 1 November 2015] Did you know that 7 women die every day from domestic violence? An estimated one in five women has been a victim of domestic violence. Did you know that between 40 and 50% of women report some form of sexual harassment in the workplace? Did you know that 5% of women aged 15 or over have been raped and only 4 to 10% of women raped in Europe try to find justice? Also women with disabilities are 4 times more likely to experience sexual violence.
In November, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) focuses on Violence against Women, as part of its Beijing+20 campaign. Read and share EWL’s factsheet on Violence against Women, which is part of EWL report “From words to action” and comprises of our key demands to the European Union and the Member States.
All our members mobilise throughout Europe to make 2015 a critical year towards the realisation of all commitments of the Beijing Platform for Action. Women and girls rights cannot wait 20 more years to enjoy their full women’s rights! At all levels, you can take action. Contact our member organisations, join us by following us on social media, disseminating our factsheets and report, coming to our events and the activities of our members if you can!
Violence against Women in Europe
Violence against women is the most widespread violation of women’s human rights in Europe. Its persistence and high prevalence demonstrate that our societies are still built on, vehicle and perpetuate patriarchal values and male domination.
Violence against women shapes women’s place in society: their health, access to employment and education, integration into social and cultural activities, economic independence, participation in public and political life and decision-making, and relations with men. Besides being a cause of suffering and trauma which has devastating consequences for the mental, physical and sexual health of individual women, violence is a major barrier to the achievement of the goal to create a society based on the principles of participation and citizenship, and in direct contradiction with the EU Treaty goal of promoting equality between women and men.
We want a world free from violence and the fear of violence for all women and girls.
The EWL demands
- Establish 2016 as the EU year to end violence against women, with substantial resources to raise awareness and support actions at all levels.
- Adopt and implement a comprehensive EU Strategy to end all forms of violence against women in Europe, including prostitution, to end impunity, protect all women, prevent violence and raise awareness, provide quality services, and give women access to justice, based on data and partnership with women’s organisations.
- Adopt EU legislation to end prostitution and sex trafficking through the criminalization of the purchase of sex and of procuring, the development of exit programmes and education actions.
- The EU and its member states: ratify the Istanbul Convention.
Violence Against Women: the EWL in action!
- EWL campaign “Together for a Europe free from prostitution”
- One Billion Rising 2013 and 2014
- 2013 EWL Barometer on rape
- 2013 EWL Council of Europe joint project “Act against rape! Use the Istanbul Convention!”
Find out more about the EWL Observatory on Violence against Women.
