Acting locally to eliminate gender-based violence

Globally, almost 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. The same goes at the European Union level. Furthermore, this violence is also rife in cyberspace: more than 1 in 2 young women worldwide are affected by cyber violence (according to EU figures).

The European Forum for Urban Security (Efus), a virbant network of 250 European cities in 18 countries, demands that such widespread violence, which equally affects the public, professional and private spheres, must be tackled as a matter of priority by local security policies.

Efus’ Security, Democracy and Cities Manifesto recommends that local and regional authorities be “involved in strategies against gender violence” and that their “role in the field of prevention and victim support be recognised and strongly supported by national governments as well as European and international institutions.” Our members commit in this document to “intensifying their efforts as coordinators and facilitators of prevention networks that include a multiplicity of stakeholders” and to “increasing the diversity of profiles – particularly gender – in the teams involved in the prevention of violence against women.”

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