Violence against women and girls is a scar on all societies. Fighting it means more than striving for gender equality. It means fulfilling basic human rights.
~ HR/VP Josep Borrell - Statement to protect women and girls from violence
Support within the EU and beyond
Helplines, shelters and support services across the globe
Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and common human rights violations globally. EU countries are no exception. Sadly, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly perpetrated by intimate partners. Eliminating such violence globally requires intensive efforts.
The EU and its member states work together to prevent and combat violence against women and girls, protect victims and punish offenders. 1 October 2023 marked the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, making the European Union the 38th Party to the Convention.
The European Union is also working towards the adoption of a common EU helpline number for victims of violence against women which will redirect users to the appropriate service.
On an international level, efforts to eliminate violence against women led world leaders to establish the Global Database on Violence against Women, an online tool that increases opportunities to exchange experiences and strengthen knowledge to prevent and stop violence against women.
The Global Database on Violence against Women, managed by UN Women, provides easy access to comprehensive and up-to-date information on measures undertaken by United Nations Member States to address all forms of violence against women.
The database includes helplines and shelters by country. To find this information, search via the link below, click on your country, scroll down to the tab Services, and select Social Services.
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CopyrightUN Women
Lila help is another trusted platform managed by the Global Network of Women’s Shelters, providing gender-based violence helplines and NGOs for almost every country in the world. Every helpline or organization on this website is safe, will provide a listening ear, understands what victims need, is part of a broader crisis-help network, and can answer your questions or call for help.
Sophia is the world’s first chatbot assisting survivors of domestic violence to gather potential evidence and seek help - a tool that can automatically direct people in vulnerable situations to the right place. On 11 May 2023, Chatbot Sophia won the EU Award for Innovation, and on 28 September it won first prize in the general category at the Social Innovation Tournament of the EIB Institute 2023!
Gender-based violence programming has shifted to meet the needs of vulnerable, urban or roving displaced populations. The Remote-Offered Skill Building App (Rosa) provides key content on gender-based violence knowledge, case management, communication and attitude skills; offers self or supervisor-administered skills assessments; and a community space for users to expand their learning through facilitated remote discussions and distance supervision.
#16Days of activism against Gender-based Violence
