Did you know that 26% of the societal cost of gender-based violence goes to health and social care services?
The societal cost of gender-based violence in the European Union (EU) is significant and has a profound impact on the economy and society as a whole. Here is a breakdown of estimated costs and percentages allocated to various areas:
- Criminal justice (67%): This area also includes the costs of the prison system and offender supervision measures.
- Health services (14%): The costs of health services refer to the medical and psychological care needed by victims of gender-based violence. This includes treatment for physical injuries and trauma, as well as support for mental health problems that may arise as a result of violence.
- Social protection (12%): This category of costs refers to the social and economic support offered to victims. This may include social assistance programs, financial allowances for affected people and other forms of material support.
- Personal costs (4%): This is an important aspect because it reflects the personal costs borne by victims of gender-based violence, such as loss of income due to the inability to work or additional expenses to deal with the consequences of violence.
- Civil justice (2%): Civil justice costs include divorce, child custody, and other issues related to families affected by gender-based violence.
- Specialized services (1%): This refers to the costs associated with specialized services for victims of gender-based violence, such as crisis centers, emergency telephone lines, and specialist counselors.
These high costs underline the importance of preventing gender-based violence and providing adequate support to victims. They also show that this problem affects not only individuals but society as a whole. Investing in preventing and combating gender-based violence not only reduces human suffering but also has a positive impact on the economy and society as a whole. It is a call to action for governments, organizations, and communities to do more to tackle this serious problem.
Within the “SAFE HUT – Creating safe spaces for the empowerment of women and girls” project, AIDRom and its partners in the project, CESIE (Italy, coordinator), Centro Penc. Antropologia e Psicologia Geoclinica (Italy), International Rescue Committee Irc (Germany), Kentro Merimnas Oikogeneias Kai Paidiou (Greece), Kovos Su Prekyba Zmonemis Ir Isnaudojimu Centras Vsi (Lithuania), Animus Association Foundation AAF (Bulgaria), ensure, among other things, that survivors of trafficking or violence have ongoing access to personalized support services through partnerships and collaborations with specialized service providers. At the same time, #SAFEHUT connects survivors, through WGSS, to essential resources for their journey to healing and independence.
The SAFE HUT project – Creating safe spaces for the empowerment of women and girls (number: 101100732) is “funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.”
Source of information: European Council website, Ending violence against women – Consilium (europa.eu)
