One-third of women across EU have experienced violence, survey finds

Those who chose not to report the violence they had experienced cited worries about their safety, feelings of shame or a lack of trust in the authorities. Photograph: Justin Paget/Getty Images

Every third woman across the EU has experienced physical violence, including threats, or sexual violence, a survey has revealed, in what one official described as an “invisible epidemic”.

The findings released on Monday are based on responses from women aged 18 to 74 from across the EU’s 27 member states.