Author Description

Gender-based violence encompasses both violence directed towards a person on the basis of their gender, and violence that disproportionately affects persons of a particular gender. Gender-based violence can be physical, sexual or psychological, or a combination of two or more of these forms. It includes domestic violence, sexual harassment and violence, harmful practices and cyberharassment. Gender-based violence happens in every country, across the full spectrum of society, and in a myriad of locations. Although both men and women are victims of gender-based violence, the majority of victims are women. One in three women in the EU have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15, while one in ten has experienced sexual harassment or stalking via new technologies. Gender-based violence is a violation of a person's fundamental rights, and is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality. There can be no real gender equality when there is wide-scale gender based violence against women. It hinders women's active participation in the labour market, and society in general. There are thus profound economic impacts of such violence, with genderbased violence against women estimated to cost EUR 226 billion each year, with the total cost of gender-based violence estimated at EUR 259 billion each year. Gender equality is a core value of the European Union, and the EU has a long history of working to protect citizens against gender-based violence, including measures to support and protect victims of such crimes, as well as ensuring they have access to justice wherever they are in the EU.