EP Building glows in orange to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg was illuminated in orange to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The choice of colour symbolises a commitment to ending gender-based violence and raising awareness about the plight of women who suffer in silence.

Opening the penultimate plenary session of the European Parliament annual calendar, President Roberta Metsola reiterated her call for action.

“Today is a reminder of our responsibility to answer the call to action. It is a moment to act and to honour all the women and girls who have lost their lives, those who survived and all those who continue to suffer, too often in silence”, she said.

Violence against women remains a widespread problem in the EU.

Eurostat studies indicate that around 30% of women have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Such violence is often perpetrated by intimate partners or family members, but its impact extends far beyond physical and psychological harm, imposing significant social and economic costs. The rise of cyberviolence and online abuse has created new challenges, disproportionately affecting young and vulnerable women.

In the EU, 31 % of women surveyed have experienced harassment at work during adulthood, and 13 % have suffered it during the last 12 months, while 18.5 % of women have been stalked during their adult life, and 2.8 % have suffered stalking during the last 12 months.

The European Parliament has long been at the forefront of initiatives to combat gender-based violence. In 2024, it supported the adoption of EU Directive 2024/1385, which sets minimum standards for prevention, protection, and access to justice for victims. The Parliament has also urged Member States to ratify and fully implement the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s legally binding framework for preventing violence, protecting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators.

Refering to the illumination of the builting, Dr Metsola described it as a light for every woman and girl who has suffered in silence, adding that more needs to be done.

“We owe them more than awareness. We owe them change”, she added.