LocationsThe data doesn't lie: a regional snapshot of Gender-Based Violence
December 4, 2025
#16Days, 7 trends.
Violence is not a shadowy abstraction. It is a measurable, urgent crisis demanding action. The numbers tell us exactly where, how and how often women and girls across Eastern Europe and Central Asia are being failed in their homes, by harmful norms and in the chaos of conflict and war.
For the #16Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, UNDP joins the global UNiTE campaign to confront this human rights emergency. The evidence that follows provides a clear-eyed regional assessment. Each data point is a call for accountability and a guide for targeted action, revealing both the depth of the challenge and the determined resolve to build a future where safety is a right, not a privilege.
1. The home – a place of fear instead of safety
The home, which should be a sanctuary, is often the most dangerous place for women and girls. Data from across the region reveals a disturbing trend of domestic abuse, often exacerbated by systems that prioritize family reputation over survivor safety.
The stark numbers from Uzbekistan, showing a majority of cases ending in reconciliation, underscore the critical importance of the country’s 2023 law which criminalized domestic violence. In Kyrgyzstan, the alarming surge is being met with solutions like multi-sectoral survivor centres and the Mildet Telegram bot for safe access to justice. Meanwhile, UNDP Kosovo ensures distance is no barrier through mobile legal aid. The message is universal: Home should be a place of safety, not fear. Silence protects the abuser, not the family.
2. Harmful beliefs – the norms that fuel abuse
Violence is sustained by harmful beliefs that condone it. Surveys across the region show that deep-seated gender stereotypes continue to legitimize abuse and silence survivors.
To dismantle these norms, UNDP is sparking critical conversations. In Georgia, the “If You Are a Woman Who…” campaign shares real stories of women reclaiming their rights. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Gender Equality Accelerator Framework unites partners to shift mindsets, reform systems, and empower women. Violence is never love. Control and silencing are not traditions, they’re warning signs. Respect starts when we question harmful “norms.”
3. Femicide – preventable tragedy
Femicide is not an isolated crime, but the most extreme outcome of a society failing to protect women and girls. It represents the final step in a continuum of violence that is often ignored.
The tragic data from Albania highlights a systemic failure to intervene early. UNDP supports the Government to strengthen protective laws and services. A crucial part of prevention is changing the narrative. In Serbia, UNDP backs “Journalists Against Violence Against Women,” a 70+ strong network promoting ethical, survivor-centered reporting to empower, not discourage. Femicide is preventable. Believe survivors. Intervene early. End the silence.
4. Intimate partner violence – abuse hidden in plain sight
Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence, often hidden behind closed doors and justified by distorted concepts of love, family and economic dependence.
The response must be as multifaceted as the problem. Moldova’s new National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women (2023) is streamlining justice and services. In Tajikistan, UNDP works with the judiciary to challenge the harmful beliefs that normalize abuse. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Women Forum for Development engages over 2,100 activists to tackle root causes, while UNDP Turkmenistan expands free legal aid and institutional support. Abuse is never your fault. Ask for help, support others and reject the idea that violence is acceptable.
5. Technology – a new frontier for harassment
Technology-facilitated GBV is a growing threat, creating new, pervasive avenues for harassment, intimidation and control, particularly targeting young women.
Legal systems are adapting to this digital reality. North Macedonia’s 2024 reforms criminalized online harassment and digital stalking, complemented by UNDP’s “Online Violence Leaves Scars Too” awareness campaign. UNDP in Türkiye runs the annual campaign “Her Vision on the Digital Edge” to amplify women’s voices for safe and equal online access, while UNDP Kosovo supports institutions in making digital spaces safer. Online violence is real violence. If you’re attacked, you deserve protection, not blame.
6. Sexual violence as a weapon of war
In war, sexual violence is deliberately used as a tactic of war to terrorize populations and destroy social fabric. Ensuring justice and support is critical to recovery and peace.
The rising number of cases under investigation in Ukraine signals both the scale of the atrocity and a determined effort to pursue accountability. To ensure these investigations are effective and trauma-informed, UNDP has trained 275 Ukrainian police officers on specialized evidence collection and survivor protection. Sexual violence during war is a crime, not collateral damage. Every survivor deserves justice and dignity.
7. Sexual harassment – an abuse of power
Sexual harassment perpetuates environments of intimidation and inequality, from workplaces and schools to public spaces, normalizing the violation of personal boundaries.
North Macedonia’s 2023 legal reforms marked significant progress by redefining rape based on the absence of consent and introducing new criminal provisions for sexual harassment. This creates a stronger foundation for accountability. Harassment is not “flirting.” Consent is never a joke. Respect starts with each of us, speak up, listen and believe when someone says “stop.”
The data from across Europe and Central Asia leaves no room for doubt: gender-based violence is a complex, multi-faceted crisis that permeates every sphere of life. Yet, this same data illuminates the path forward—a path of stronger laws, transformed norms, innovative support services and unwavering survivor-centred justice.
UNDP, alongside its national partners, is committed to using this evidence as a compass. Our work—from mobile legal clinics and digital safety campaigns to judicial training and normative change—is targeted, measured and driven by the urgent need revealed in these numbers. The 16 Days of Activism is a rallying cry. Still, the mission endures every day: to build a future where equality, safety and respect are not just ideals but realities for every woman and girl in the region.
*All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).