“Across the EU, women are confronted with high levels of abuse at home, at work, in public and online,” says FRA Director Morten Kjaerum, marking International Women’s Day. “Comprehensive action to end violence against women is still needed. We are seeing signs of change but we still need employers, healthcare professionals, internet providers and the police to change how they tackle violence against women. And, if we truly want to make it happen, we need men to play a stronger role in eliminating what is essentially men’s violence against women.”

The findings from FRA’s survey pointed to high levels of abuse: For example, one in three women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence as an adult, and one in two women had been sexually harassed.

Last March, when FRA published the survey results, only 3 EU Member States had ratified the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. One year on, the convention has since entered into force with Slovenia becoming the ninth EU Member State to ratify it, bringing the total to 16 ratifications and 21 signatories. Clearly, more ratifications are on the way – which is encouraging.

The convention provides Europe with legally-binding standards to combat violence against women for the first time. It contains a comprehensive framework for effective policies to combat and prevent this pervasive problem, including awareness raising measures targeting both women and men.

In addition, since the release of the findings, FRA has been actively engaging with EU bodies and Member States to explain the findings and how they can be used. The results have been presented to ministers, parliaments, support groups and civil society organisations, as well as healthcare practitioners and law enforcement officials in the majority of Member States. For example, last month FRA provided expert advice on tackling violence against women to the German Bundestag’s Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, as Germany is reviewing its legislation on violence against women as part of the country’s efforts to ratify the Istanbul Convention. Others Member States are using FRA’s survey methodology to carry out their own national surveys.

Such initiatives to eliminate violence against women across Europe are signs of progress. But on the ground, many women are still hoping Europe and its Member States can make it happen.