EU

#OrangeTheWorld - Parliament stands against rape

Published

7 years ago

November 26, 2019

Parliament is lit up in this hue to support the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The European Parliament marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November by lighting its building in orange.

This year’s Orange the World initiative focuses on the issue of rape. One in 20 women in the EU has been raped, data shows.

Violence against women in the EU:

Half of all women have experienced sexual harassment
More than 20% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a current or previous partner
43% of women have experienced some form of psychologically abusive and/or controlling behaviour when in a relationship

“We know the alarming numbers: one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lives. Every second murder of a woman is committed by someone close - friends or family,” said Austrian S&D member Evelyn Regner, chair of Parliament’s women’s rights and gender equality committee. “The perpetrators are often husbands, brothers or partners. So the most dangerous place for women is their own home. Violence against women concerns us all.”

Let us not look away. Let us listen to those affected and work together at all levels to ensure that women can live independently and free from violence
Evelyn Regner
Chairwoman of Parliament's gender equality committee

The European Parliament has adopted measures to fight violence against women and promotes gender equality.

Violence against women