Why Europe needs to act earlier to stop violence against women

Across Europe, a wide range of service providers are working to strengthen protection for women facing violence. But the latest EU Gender-Based Violence Survey shows how far we must go: only 21% of women who experienced violence contacted healthcare or social services, just 14% reported it to the police, and only 6% reached out to a helpline. Many stay silent because of fear, shame or a belief that nothing will change. These findings make one thing clear: protection must begin long before violence escalates. At a recent meeting, EU equality ministers reaffirmed that tackling violence against...