EU Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2023

1. In the context of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November we reaffirm our strong determination and firmest commitment to the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls.

2. Violence against women, including femicide and domestic violence, persists in all parts of the world. Despite the EU aiming to lead by example on gender equality, some 22 percent of women in the EU have experienced intimate partner violence. More than 3.000 women are killed each year in Europe by their partners or family members and countless more are hurt and harassed. Violence against women and girls is a serious human rights violation and abuse.

3. The EU acceded to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210), also known as Istanbul Convention, in June 2023, which entered into force for the EU on 1 October 2023. It sets international standards for preventing all forms of violence against all women and girls, including domestic violence, protecting victims and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. We underline the pioneering role of the Council of Europe, including through the Istanbul Convention, in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence.

4. The EU will continue to place the prevention and elimination of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence both online and offline at the centre of its efforts, and promote whole-of-society efforts to engage men and boys as allies and equal beneficiaries of gender equality in ending sexual and gender-based violence, eliminating all gender inequalities, addressing discriminatory laws and combating gender stereotypes and negative social norms. In this regard, we stress the need for an ambitious and transformative approach to address the root causes and risk factors of gender inequality, discrimination and violence against women and girls.

5. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we express our deepest concern about violence against women and girls, including in conflict situations. We continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and all violations of international human rights law.

6. We commend the work of civil society, in particular women’s rights organisations and feminist movements, in promoting awareness but also in preventing and combating all forms of violence.

7. As we are celebrating this year the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and to defend their universality.

The following countries align with this statement:  Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.