On International Women's Day this year, the Human Rights Ombudswoman, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, warned that recent studies show that violence against women remains one of the most serious human rights violations in Europe, including in Slovenia. On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published an extensive study on gender-based violence in the European Union. It provides the most comprehensive overview to date of the extent and forms of violence against women in EU Member States. More than 114,000 women from 27 EU countries participated in the survey. Such population-based surveys are crucial for understanding the prevalence of violence and for developing effective policies to protect victims.

The analysis shows that one in three women in the EU has experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence, almost one in five has experienced violence from an intimate partner, and one in three has experienced sexual harassment at work. In Slovenia, 22.5 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner, family member, acquaintance or stranger at some point in their lives. While this figure is lower than the EU average of 30.7%, the survey emphasises that violence remains widespread in Slovenia. 9.6% of women have experienced sexual violence at least once since the age of 15, and 6.6% have experienced it in childhood. The survey also highlights the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace: 31.7% of women, or approximately one in three women in Slovenia, report having experienced it during their working life.

'Behind the numbers presented in this comprehensive analysis are the lives of countless girls and women who have experienced violence. Each percentage point reflects a specific violation of dignity and sense of security, as well as a specific experience of fear, humiliation or exclusion. This obliges us as a society to take action," said Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, in light of International Women's Day and the findings of this report.

The European survey on gender-based violence builds on the FRA study from 2014. An in-depth analysis reveals persistent structural gender inequality and the systemic nature of violence against women. Systems in EU countries are inadequate – they often fail to prevent violence, do not protect victims, and do not ensure justice. The new survey also covers new areas, such as a broader approach to sexual harassment and cyberbullying.

The report shows that there has been no significant decline in violence over the last decade, indicating that it remains a major social problem in the European Union. Comparing data from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights' 2014 survey on violence against women and the new EU survey on gender-based violence shows that the prevalence of violence against women in Slovenia has not changed significantly in the last decade. This indicates that, despite greater social awareness and policy developments in this area, violence against women remains a persistent social issue requiring long-term systemic solutions. 'The actual extent of violence against women is probably even greater, as many women do not report violence due to fear, stigma, economic dependence or distrust of institutions. Everyone has the right to live free from violence, but for many women in the EU, this right remains unattainable,' emphasises the Ombudswoman, recalling that by ratifying the Istanbul Convention, the Republic of Slovenia has assumed a clear and legally binding obligation to prevent violence, protect victims and ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.

In recent years, Slovenia has also taken important steps to protect women from violence, including amending the Criminal Code with regard to the criminal offences of rape and sexual violence and adopting a national programme for the prevention of domestic violence and violence against women. 'For years, the Human Rights Ombudsman has been highlighting several systemic shortcomings in the treatment of violence against women. These include the fact that Slovenia still does not have a specialised crisis centre for victims of rape or sexual violence, which would provide medical and forensic treatment, as well as psychological assistance. This is required by the Istanbul Convention. It is also worrying that the social skills training programme for perpetrators of violence, run by the only non-governmental organisation in Slovenia that systematically promotes non-violent communication, has had a waiting list of six months for a long time, meaning that the state is not effectively ensuring the availability of preventive measures necessary for the long-term reduction of violence,' emphasised Ombudswoman Dr Drenik Bavdek.

Dr Bavdek also highlights the need for systematic training of experts in the police, judiciary and social services, and draws attention to the lack of uniform protocols and effective institutional coordination when dealing with cases of violence. She also highlights the lack of adequate or high-quality data on domestic violence and violence in institutional settings against persons with disabilities or other vulnerable groups, such as Roma women. Additional research is also needed on the issue of early and forced marriages of minors.

'Greater emphasis must also be placed on preventing violence. Decisive and continuous further measures are needed until society clearly recognises that zero tolerance of violence is the only acceptable approach, and until there are no more daughters, mothers, friends, colleagues or neighbours among us who have to face violence,' emphasised Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek.

https://eige.europa.eu/newsroo...