Men and women, children and adults daily become victims of various forms of violence. However, there are gender-specific differences in the acts of violence. This is why women are more often affected by sexual violence. [1]

Types of violence
Violence against women happens in all social groups and classes on a physical, sexual, psychological, economic or social level. Basically, there is a difference between personal violence, used by a perpetrator, and structural violence, which finds expression in unequal opportunities for action and decision. [2]

The Viennese Women's Health Programm has defined the following forms of abuse: [6]

Physical abuse: slaps in the face, pushing away, hitting with objects, beating up, choking, gun violence.
Sexual abuse: rape, attempted rape, different forms of sexual assault, physical force or threats.
Sexual harassment: sexist and gender-specific degrading/humiliating comments and actions, unwanted physical approximation, approximation related to promises of rewards and/or under threat of coercive actions, sexual aggressions, physical use of force.
Psychological abuse: harm and violation through refusal of affection and trust, emotional torture, blackmail, humiliation, refusal of contact, generation of unease/anxiety, loss of autonomy.

Additionally, "violence against women" covers areas like women trafficking and forced prostitution as well as acts of violence in wars and conflict situations and female genital cutting. [FEMALE CIRCUMCISION] [2]

Statistics
An EU-wide survey by the FRA (European Union Agency For Fundamental Rights) in 2014 on the topic "violence against women" among 42 thousand women from 28 states examined the dimensions of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. They were also interviewed about their experiences with stalking and sexual abuse through new media: [1]

- 33% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15. That corresponds to 62 million women.
- 22% have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner.
- 5% of all women have been raped. Almost one in 10 women who have experienced sexual violence by a non-partner, indicate that more than one perpetrator was involved in the most serious incident.
- 43% have experienced some form of psychological violence by either a current or a previous partner, such as public humiliation; forbidding a woman to leave the house or locking her up; forcing her to watch pornography; and threats of violence.
- 33% have childhood experiences of physical or sexual violence at the hands of an adult. 12% had childhood experiences of sexual violence, of which half were from men they did not know. These forms of abuse typically involve an adult exposing their genitals or touching the child's genitals or breasts.
- 18% of women have experienced stalking since the age of 15 and 5% in the 12 months prior to the interview. This corresponds to 9 million women. 21% of women who have experienced stalking said that it lasted for over 2 years.
- 11% of women have experienced inappropriate advances on social websites or have been subjected to sexually explicit emails or text (SMS) messages. 20% of young women (18-29) have been victims of such cyberharassment.
- 55% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment. 32% of all victims of sexual harassment said the perpetrator was a boss, colleague or customer.
- 67% did not report the most serious incident of partner violence to the police or any other organisation.

Attempt to explain
„Recognizing that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women." (Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, United Nations 1993) [7]

Why are women more frequently victims of violence than men? Is it because men are on average stronger and taller than women? Can physical superiority explain the predisposition for physical and sexual violence? Do evolutionary or physical reasons, like a higher level of testosterone in the male body, play an important role? [FEMALE PHYSIOLOGY] [3] [4]

It's hard to assess those physical and evolutionary factors. Considering the animal world, it shows that size might be an indicator for power and violence but could this give a real explanation for human interactions in the 21st century? [3] [4] [5]

The Declaration of the United Nations (1993) speaks of historically induced and unbalanced power relations which form the basis of systemic violence against women. According to this, violence on a structural or cultural level disadvantages women more than violence on a personal level, which can be traced to differences among individuals. Thus, sociopolitical decisions, norms and traditions prevent women from developing their full potential. [3] [4]

Proposed solution
A possible solution to this problem cannot be found in shifting the monopoly of power towards another gender or age group but in an equal treatment which offers alternatives to violence and facilitates a peaceful coexistence.

Another approach aims for education in order to create awareness for the problem. Worldwide campaigns, free trainings, workshops and seminars can on the one hand prevent new violence and on the other hand empower aggrieved persons to regain control over their lives and bodies. Besides, assistance in the form of women's shelters, emergency numbers and free psychotherapy should be subsidized and extended. Although such measures won't stop violence against women overnight but provide indispensable assistance and facilitate a way into normality, away from violence. [3] [4]

Further Links:
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (Day of Remembrance and Action, yearly 25.^th of November)
UN WOMEN, National Committes Worldwide (Website)
Gewalt gegen Frauen ist Alltag, Heymann Brandt de Degelmini (Campange)