EU statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

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

2. Violence against women remains a pervasive, large-scale violation of human rights worldwide. Women continue to face gender-based violence in their homes, workplaces, public spaces, and increasingly online. Within the EU, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence, one in six has been subjected to sexual violence, and one in five has experienced domestic violence.

3. 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 center of its efforts. Essential to this is the engagement of society as a whole, including men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality. This is not only necessary but indispensable with a view to ending sexual and gender-based violence, eliminating gender inequalities, addressing discriminatory laws, and combating gender stereotypes and negative social norms.

4. We recall that the CoE Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 underlines the need to, inter alia, combat disinformation and rely on an evidence-based approach to effectively combat gender-based violence.

5. We underline the pioneering role of the Council of Europe, including through the Istanbul Convention, in setting international standards for the prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls and domestic violence, for the protection of survivors and the prosecution of perpetrators in a coordinated manner. It offers comprehensive solutions, while centering the human rights and needs of women and girls victims and survivors.

6. The EU acceded to the Istanbul Convention in 2023 and is currently undergoing GREVIO’s baseline evaluation process, with the EU Baseline Report due by 28 November 2025. The first evaluation visit of the monitoring mechanism GREVIO to the EU is planned for next year. The EU milestone Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence (2024) builds on the Istanbul Convention. It strengthens victim protection and aims to prevent violence against women and domestic violence. Member States are required to transpose the directive into national law by June 2027.

7. The EU’s and EU Member States’ commitment to the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls was reaffirmed through the adoption of the Council Conclusions on Violence against women and domestic violence: prevention, early detection and intervention and the Roadmap for Women’s Rights, which proclaims “Freedom from gender-based violence” as principle number 1. 

8. We reiterate our concern about sexual violence and other human rights violations in conflict situations, particularly in Ukraine. We continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, and all violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.

9. We commend the work of civil society, in particular women’s rights organisations and feminist movements in supporting and empowering women victims and survivors of violence, and in raising awareness to prevent and combat all forms of violence.

The following countries aligned with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.