Violence impedes women’s full participation in society and has long-term consequences and costs for women’s families, communities and countries. As a gross violation of human rights, violence against women and girls remains widespread in Europe and Central Asia. 80% of victims of sexual violence in almost every country in the region are women and girls. Similarly high rates are reported for psychological violence perpetrated by a partner. For example, in Belarus 83% of women reported such cases, in Moldova – 60%, in Albania – 58%. A study conducted by UN Women in 2012 found that in many countries women are still subjected to physical or sexual violence by their partners. This was confirmed by 58 percent of women in Tajikistan, 42 percent of women in Turkey, and more than 20 percent in 11 other European and Central Asian states.
Although some countries in the region have strengthened legislation against domestic violence and trafficking, and others have adopted national gender equality strategies to address violence against women, limiting factors in their implementation include low enforcement capacity, lack of funding, insufficient specialized services for survivors (especially in rural areas), poor coordination, and dominant social norms, traditions, and practices.
In Europe and Central Asia, women’s protection organizations work to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls by
- Supporting initiatives to improve access to services for survivors of violence and provide safer public and private spaces for women and girls;
- Partnering with governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations and NGOs to prevent and respond to violence;
- raising awareness of the causes and consequences of violence against women;
- working to change attitudes and behaviors that demonstrate tolerant attitudes and perpetuate violence and gender inequality.