13 million women in the EU experienced physical violence in a year. In addition, 3.7 million women, or 2% of EU female citizens aged 18-74, experienced sexual violence in the EU over the same period.
Beyond the violence that women experience because they are women, they are also subjected to many other crimes – theft and burglary, fraud, murder and other crimes also happen to women, who then need support, protection, and access justice.
The EU must strengthen the entire legislative framework for all women victims, regardless of the type of crime or the motivation for it.
Only through a synergy of a strong Victims’ Rights Directive, as the foundation, and the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, providing womenspecific solutions for women-only problems, can we make sure that no woman is left behind.
