November 25th reminds us of the global crisis of violence against women, a structural issue rooted in patriarchy and exacerbated by inequality. In Europe, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence, and every week, 50 women are killed by intimate partners or family members. Domestic violence reports surged during the COVID-19 lockdowns, exposing the fragility of safety nets for women in abusive situations. For instance, France reported a 42% increase in domestic violence complaints during the first lockdown in 2020, while Spain’s emergency hotlines recorded a similar spike.

Those violence are not isolated but systemic. Economic precarity significantly exacerbates women’s vulnerability to violence. Austerity measures across Europe have disproportionately affected women, slashing funding for shelters, legal aid, and social services. We need fully funded social services, robust labor protections, and mandatory education on consent and equality, these services are essential. Countries like Sweden and Norway, which have robust welfare systems, show lower rates of domestic violence compared to austerity-hit nations like Greece and Italy.

Yet, even as we address longstanding challenges, new threats are emerging. The internet has amplified new forms of misogyny, with the “involuntary celibate” (incel) movement emerging as a particularly insidious threat. Incels are part of a broader ecosystem of online hate groups that dehumanize women and often advocate violence. 

We must tackle the economic and social alienation that feeds into these movements while simultaneously addressing the structural misogyny that fuels their ideology. Regulating online platforms that host and amplify incel content is essential, as is fostering spaces for counter-discourses that challenge toxic masculinity.

Ending violence against women demands radical, systemic change. This includes dismantling patriarchal norms, fighting economic inequality, and confronting new dangers in the digital age. Crucially, the legal definition of rape in all European countries must be updated to center lack of consent. Because only yes means yes. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, let us commit to building a world where safety, dignity, and equality are non-negotiable rights for all.