Violence against women: A public health crisis

Nov 27, 2023
DISCUSSION PAPER
Photo credits: Thibaud Moritz / AFP
In the EU, a third of women over the age of 15 have experienced physical or sexual violence and over half have been sexually harassed.

Although often overlooked, the majority of (workplace) violence takes place in the healthcare sector as healthcare professionals are 16 times more at risk of violence in comparison to other occupations. Violence does not only manifest in abusive behaviour toward workers on duty but can also be perpetrated on women as receivers of healthcare. High rates of violence in healthcare, brought on and exacerbated by gender stereotypes and inequality, point to dysfunctional health systems.

This Discussion Paper provides policy recommendations on the way forward for the EU member states, taking a closer look at:

  1. Gender-based violence against healthcare workers.
  2. Obstetric and gynaecological violence against women.
  3. Gender-based violence as a story of gender inequality.
  4. Legislation and policies that protect women.



Read the full paper here.

Related publications

EPC ROUND-UP
Aug 14, 2026
by Georg Riekeles, Johannes Greubel, Fabian Zuleeg, Helena Hahn, Brooke Moore, Elizabeth Kuiper, Paweł Świeboda, Varg Folkman, Samuel Goodger, Talisa Mazzoni, Liza Saris, Tabea Schaumann, Javier Carbonell, Linda Solstrand Dahlberg, Edward Fishman, Bart Hogeveen, Levente Kocsis, Maria Martisiute, Maria Demertzis, Tobias Etzold, Vanna Curin
POLICY BRIEF
Aug 03, 2026
by Linda Solstrand Dahlberg, Maria Martisiute, Tobias Etzold

By the same authors

COMMENTARY
Mar 08, 2023
by Elizabeth Kuiper, Victoria Pedjasaar
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. More information is available in our Privacy Policy