• 30.7% of women in the EU experience violence during their lifetime.
• Most incidents of violence remain unreported due to shame and fear.
• High prevalence rates of reported violence are noted in Nordic countries.
• Cyberstalking reveals the digital intensification of women's suffering.
• Member states have obligations to prevent violence and protect victims.

According to a recent survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), approximately 30.7% of women in the European Union have experienced some form of violence during their lifetime, which includes physical and sexual violence. Alarmingly, most incidents remain unreported, with only 11.3% of women informing authorities about abuse by non-partners and merely 6.1% reporting attacks by intimate partners. Factors such as shame, fear, and distrust in law enforcement contribute significantly to this underreporting, as well as a lack of awareness about available support services, according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Dawn.

The FRA survey indicates a significant range in reported rates of violence across EU member states, with 57.1% of women in Finland reporting experiences of violence compared to only 11.9% in Bulgaria. This disparity, referred to as the "Nordic paradox," suggests that cultural differences and various reporting behaviors impact how women's experiences of violence are perceived and recorded. Researchers have noted that these differences may arise from contrasting views on sexual encounters and societal gender equality, according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Dawn.

Furthermore, the report highlighted the increasing relevance of digital violence, with 8.5% of women reporting experiences of cyberstalking and 10.2% indicating that their location had been monitored by an intimate partner. These findings point to the evolving landscape of gender-based violence, which has become more complex due to technological advancements, as emphasized by Le Monde and Dawn.

FRA Director Sirpa Rautio remarked that "Violence against women is a fundamental rights violation" and stressed the urgent need for member states to fulfill their obligations to prevent such violence and protect victims. The ongoing challenges highlighted by this survey underline the need for better protective measures and reforms within EU institutions for effective support, according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Dawn.