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A recent survey reveals wide variations in attitudes in the European Union towards gender-based violence. By and large, countries in Eastern Europe are more tolerant of gender-based violence but the situation is complex and in some cases, the figures for some Western European countries suggest that they have some catching up to do - even with some of their eastern cousins.
You can get the data here. Click on "Reports (1)" and then click on the wee PDF icon to download the report.
These are the stand-out points for me.
1. Do women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape?
More than one in five respondents (22%) across the EU agree women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape. Respondents in Malta (47%), Cyprus (44%), Lithuania (42%), Latvia (39%), Estonia (31%) and UK (30%) all reported agreement from 3 in 10 or more respondents. At the other end of the scale, these figures compared to just 8% in Sweden and 13% in France and Italy. The figure for Republic of Ireland is 23%.
2. Violence against women?
In Latvia, 57% of respondents agree that it's often provoked by the victim. 45% of Lithuanians and 40% of Maltese agree. In Ireland, the figure is 18% - just above the EU average of 17%.
3. Sexual intercourse without consent?
I'll put the details in another post but in this question, survey participants were asked of sex without consent was justified while being presented with various scenarios such as the victim being drunk or on drugs, wearing revealing clothing or flirting beforehand.
In six countries, 40% or more respondents agreed that at least one of the circumstances justified sexual intercourse without consent. These were Romania (55%), Hungary (47%), Bulgaria (43%), Czech Republic (42%), Belgium and Slovakia (both 40%). The lowest figures came from Sweden (6%), Spain (8%), Finland (11%) and Denmark (13%). For the Republic of Ireland, the figure was 21%. This is below the average EU figure of 27%.
4. Domestic violence against women: is it ever acceptable?
In Poland, 6% of respondents said it was acceptable in certain circumstances. Slovakia and Romania were 5% and 4% respectively. At the other end of the scale were Denmark, Sweden and Malta where zero % said it was acceptable in certain circumstances. Republic of Ireland was 1%.
5. Domestic violence against women: should it always be punishable by law?
In Latvia, 30% of responses said it should not always be punishable by law. The same response was given by 23% in Slovakia, 22% in the Netherlands and 20% in Belgium. Single digit percentages were returned in Portugal (2%), Spain (4%), Sweden (6%), Italy (7%), Republic of Ireland (8%) and Greece (9%).
6. Domestic violence against men: is it ever acceptable?
The countries returning the lowest percentages saying it's acceptable in certain circumstances were Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and Slovenia who returned 5%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 9% respectively. The highest percentages were in Latvia (32%), Romania (26%) and Slovakia (24%).
7. Domestic violence against men: should it always be punishable by law?
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Denmark France and Slovenia all reported responses 85% or higher saying it should always be punishable by law. With Portugal, Spain and Sweden, it was 92-93%. The lowest percentages were in Latvia (55%), Romania (62%), Slovakia (63%) and Poland (68%).
8. Forcing a partner to have sex.
Lithuania is the only country where more than one in four thinks forcing a partner to have sex should not be illegal (31%). The figure was 24% in the Czech Republic, 21% in Italy, Latvia and Slovakia, and 20% in Romania. Just 2% of respondents in the UK and Sweden and 3% in France and Ireland think the same way.
9. Making sexually suggestive comments or jokes to a woman in the street.
More than one in five respondents in each country think making these kinds of comments to women in the street should not be against the law, and in nine Member States more than half think this way. Respondents in Austria (62%), Germany (58%), the Netherlands and Finland (both 57%) are the most likely to think this should not be illegal, while those in Portugal (23%), Poland and Malta (both 27%) are the least likely to do so. For the Republic of Ireland, the figure is 28%.
Nearly one in ten respondents in Slovenia (9%) say this behaviour is not wrong and should not be against the law, followed by Austria, Germany and Lithuania (all 8%). The lowest figures were in the UK, Malta and Portugal who reported 1%, 1% and 2% respectively. For the Republic of Ireland, the figure is 3%.
You can get the data here. Click on "Reports (1)" and then click on the wee PDF icon to download the report.
These are the stand-out points for me.
1. Do women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape?
More than one in five respondents (22%) across the EU agree women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape. Respondents in Malta (47%), Cyprus (44%), Lithuania (42%), Latvia (39%), Estonia (31%) and UK (30%) all reported agreement from 3 in 10 or more respondents. At the other end of the scale, these figures compared to just 8% in Sweden and 13% in France and Italy. The figure for Republic of Ireland is 23%.
2. Violence against women?
In Latvia, 57% of respondents agree that it's often provoked by the victim. 45% of Lithuanians and 40% of Maltese agree. In Ireland, the figure is 18% - just above the EU average of 17%.
3. Sexual intercourse without consent?
I'll put the details in another post but in this question, survey participants were asked of sex without consent was justified while being presented with various scenarios such as the victim being drunk or on drugs, wearing revealing clothing or flirting beforehand.
In six countries, 40% or more respondents agreed that at least one of the circumstances justified sexual intercourse without consent. These were Romania (55%), Hungary (47%), Bulgaria (43%), Czech Republic (42%), Belgium and Slovakia (both 40%). The lowest figures came from Sweden (6%), Spain (8%), Finland (11%) and Denmark (13%). For the Republic of Ireland, the figure was 21%. This is below the average EU figure of 27%.
4. Domestic violence against women: is it ever acceptable?
In Poland, 6% of respondents said it was acceptable in certain circumstances. Slovakia and Romania were 5% and 4% respectively. At the other end of the scale were Denmark, Sweden and Malta where zero % said it was acceptable in certain circumstances. Republic of Ireland was 1%.
5. Domestic violence against women: should it always be punishable by law?
In Latvia, 30% of responses said it should not always be punishable by law. The same response was given by 23% in Slovakia, 22% in the Netherlands and 20% in Belgium. Single digit percentages were returned in Portugal (2%), Spain (4%), Sweden (6%), Italy (7%), Republic of Ireland (8%) and Greece (9%).
6. Domestic violence against men: is it ever acceptable?
The countries returning the lowest percentages saying it's acceptable in certain circumstances were Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and Slovenia who returned 5%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 9% respectively. The highest percentages were in Latvia (32%), Romania (26%) and Slovakia (24%).
7. Domestic violence against men: should it always be punishable by law?
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Denmark France and Slovenia all reported responses 85% or higher saying it should always be punishable by law. With Portugal, Spain and Sweden, it was 92-93%. The lowest percentages were in Latvia (55%), Romania (62%), Slovakia (63%) and Poland (68%).
8. Forcing a partner to have sex.
Lithuania is the only country where more than one in four thinks forcing a partner to have sex should not be illegal (31%). The figure was 24% in the Czech Republic, 21% in Italy, Latvia and Slovakia, and 20% in Romania. Just 2% of respondents in the UK and Sweden and 3% in France and Ireland think the same way.
9. Making sexually suggestive comments or jokes to a woman in the street.
More than one in five respondents in each country think making these kinds of comments to women in the street should not be against the law, and in nine Member States more than half think this way. Respondents in Austria (62%), Germany (58%), the Netherlands and Finland (both 57%) are the most likely to think this should not be illegal, while those in Portugal (23%), Poland and Malta (both 27%) are the least likely to do so. For the Republic of Ireland, the figure is 28%.
Nearly one in ten respondents in Slovenia (9%) say this behaviour is not wrong and should not be against the law, followed by Austria, Germany and Lithuania (all 8%). The lowest figures were in the UK, Malta and Portugal who reported 1%, 1% and 2% respectively. For the Republic of Ireland, the figure is 3%.