HRC56 Annual full day discussion on the human rights of women Panel 1: Economic violence as a form of gender based violence against women and girls EU Statement

United Nations Human Rights Council

56th session

Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women

Panel 1: Economic violence as a form of gender-based violence against women and girls

EU statement

28 June 2024

Mr. President,

Economic violence is a pervasive form of abuse. It is a global challenge that we need to put an end to. An important form of economic violence is control over economic resources, which is one of the main barriers preventing women from leaving abusive relationships.

In fact, around 12 per cent of women in the European Union have experienced economic violence by an intimate partner with devastating effects and in violation of human rights. Victims are prevented from pursuing careers, stripped of their economic independence and restricted from taking part in financial decision making.

A milestone in the European Union's fight to combat such violence, is the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, adopted last month. This is our first, comprehensive law to fight sexual and gender-based violence. The Directive criminalises multiple forms of violence against women across the EU, both offline and online. It provides minimum standards for the protection and support of victims of economic violence across the Union. For example, the economic control the perpetrator holds over the victim will be taken into account when assessing the victim's need for protection and support including free legal aid. The EU also acceded to the Council of Europe's "Istanbul Convention" last year, which sets international standards for preventing all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, protecting victims and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.

The EU will work tirelessly to eradicate all forms of sexual and gender-based violence both within and outside our Union.

Mr. President,

What can governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders further do jointly to resolutely put an end to gender-based economic violence?

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