Covid hell as 3 in 4 women say pandemic has led to increase in domestic violence in EU poll

Covid hell as 3 in 4 women say pandemic has led to increase in domestic violence in EU poll
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Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 04/03/2022

- 16:48

A European Parliament Eurobarometer poll, commissioned on March 8th, says that about three in four (77 percent) of women in the EU feel the COVID pandemic had led to an increase in physical and emotional violence against women in their country.

The Covid pandemic has led in an increase in domestic violence according to 3 in 4 women, a shock report finds.

A European Parliament Eurobarometer poll, commissioned on March 8th, says that about three in four (77 percent) of women in the EU feel the COVID pandemic had led to an increase in physical and emotional violence against women in their country.


While the majority emphasised this as a priority issue, there were big differences between some countries.

Around nine in ten felt this way in Greece (93 percent), Portugal (90 percent) and Austria (89 percent).

In contrast, in Finland and Hungary (48 percent and 47 percent), about half of respondents said violence against women has increased.

The poll asked issues European Parliament should focus on in order to help women, with the most frequent responses being "trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children" and "mental and physical violence against women," according to Politico.

Along with the issues mentioned, the pay gap also ranks high among concerns for women in the EU.

Some 41 percent mentioned "the pay gap between women and men and its impact on career development" as an issue the EU should tackle.

About three in 10 women (31 percent) said the European Parliament should focus on addressing the problems for women in reconciling their private and working lives.

Around 30 percent picked the protection of women and girls belonging to a vulnerable group as a key priority issue for the European Parliament.

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