Gender-based violence
Violence is a gendered phenomenon. Both men and women are subjected to violence, but gender influences the type of violence experienced. Being a member of a gender minority increases the risk of violence. Gender-based violence refers to violence that differs in form, frequency or consequences according to gender.
Violence against women
Violence against women is violence that is inflicted on women or girls because of their gender or that is relatively more often inflicted on women.
It means all acts of gender-based violence that cause or may cause impacts such as physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women. Threatening, coercing or arbitrarily depriving someone of their liberty, whether in public or in private life, also constitutes violence.
Violence against women is a major global human rights issue concerning women’s safety, health and equality. The violence is rooted in gender inequality. It occurs across all cultures, social classes and age groups.
Women are subjected to violence especially in intimate relationships, family relationships or at work. The most common form of violence against women is intimate partner violence (domestic violence), but there are other forms of violence as well. For example, sexual violence and sexual harassment, honour-related violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and human trafficking related to sexual exploitation are also forms of violence against women.
One in three women encounter physical violence during their life. Half of all women experience psychological violence in their relationships
According to Sukupuolistunut väkivalta ja lähisuhdeväkivalta Suomessa 2021 study on gendered violence and domestic violence in Finland by Statistics Finland, one in three women (32%) and one in six men (18%) have experienced physical violence or threats of it in their intimate relationships, and 10% of women and 2% of men have experienced sexual violence in their intimate relationships.
49% of women and 41% of men have experienced psychological violence in their intimate relationships. The most serious experiences of intimate partner violence are concentrated among women, as women face repeated and severe violence significantly more often than men. The proportion of female victims in domestic violence cases resolved in the lower courts between 2019 and 2022 was 81%.
Finland is committed to preventing and intervening in domestic violence and violence against women
The Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe, Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) entered into force in Finland in 2015. Nollalinja, a free-of-charge 24-hour helpline, is one of the low-threshold services that the convention requires from the Member States.
Contact Nollalinja for help with experiences of violence against women.