These days, we frequently hear the term “violence against women,” but what does it really mean? How does it impact individual lives and the fabric of our communities? Behind headlines and statistics lies a deeper story: violence against women (VAW) is not just isolated incidents but a brutal manifestation of systemic inequality that impacts us all.

VAW is a form of violence directed at women because of their gender, reflecting and reinforcing power inequalities. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993) defines it as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women (…) whether occurring in public or private life.” This includes intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and economic abuse. At its core, VAW isn’t only about what happens; it’s why. VAW is rooted in structural inequality, a consequence of the deeply embedded unequal power relations between men and women, and shaped by perspectives that view gender and authority as tools of domination.

Today, alarming statistics persist: the latest UNODC-UN Women report shows that one in three women faces physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, often at the hands of someone she knows. In Switzerland, for example, between 2015 and 2022, there have been 41 intimate-partner firearm homicides, of which 40 perpetrators were men. In 2024, around 73% of the homicides took place in existing or former intimate partner relationships. Out of 26 people killed, 19 were identified as women. These patterns are not only relics of the past.  Femicide, the gender-based killing of women and girls, remains a grim reality worldwide. These numbers indicate society’s indifference and implicit tolerance of violence against women as a means for maintaining power, especially within the family where men’s authority is seldom questioned.

Patriarchy silently influences daily interactions, laws, and institutions. It sustains the belief that violence is an acceptable way to settle conflicts or impose dominance in gender relations. As a result, women’s safety and freedom are continually threatened, causing devastating effects for individuals and communities.

Why does this violence endure? At its core, VAW is upheld by patriarchal norms that justify violence, often used by men to sustain dominance in families and society. As feminist movements have long argued, VAW is a social injustice, not just a private tragedy, that demand public attention and action. While perpetrators must be held accountable, society bears collective responsibility. We all must explore the roots of these patterns and oppose them. 

Now, allow me a small reflection as a PhD researcher on this topic in an institution of higher education. Educational settings hold significant potential to influence our perceptions and can be themselves sites of VAW. They should serve as spaces where knowledge is not only shared but also harnessed to cultivate responsible, critical-thinking individuals who can question the root causes of violence and inequality. Integrating gender equality, feminist perspectives, and critical thinking into curricula across all disciplines can encourage students to question patriarchal assumptions and gendered social norms. This offers students a more rounded education, allowing them to identify and challenge gender bias, building a foundation for lifelong empathy and deeper reflection. Proactive strategies to prevent VAW can include not only policy development, staff training, awareness campaigns, and reporting mechanisms (all essential), but also foster critical thinking and awareness of feminist theories and their perspectives on violence. Understanding the origins and mechanisms of VAW is a vital first step in the wider effort to address VAW. 

Combating VAW is an urgent necessity. It requires reexamining how we structure our societies and states. Genuine change involves addressing individual actions and societal frameworks, beginning with questioning not only what VAW is but also what kind of society we aspire to build together.