Increased Domestic Violence in Europe: A Shadow Pandemic

Abstract

Victims of domestic violence are more frequent and more dispersed than commonly believed. This chapter investigates the increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on female victims in Europe and analyses the restrictive measures which played a role in the increase of domestic violence. Triggers of domestic violence such as restriction of movement, excessive alcohol consumption and increased stress were observed during the pandemic, leading to a rise in frequency and intensity of domestic violence, and an outbreak of violent behaviour by individuals with no prior recorded offences. European institutions and national governments took specific measures in the face of escalated domestic violence during the pandemic, ranging from awareness-raising campaigns to complete action plans with dedicated funding. Some national reactions took the form of legislative changes or measures to improve shelter and support services accessibility. By comparing the reaction of European institutions and various national governments, the chapter highlights the lack of uniform recognition of and response to domestic violence in the European Union, including in some cases, no ratification of the Istanbul Convention. Through comparative analysis, the chapter emphasises the prevalence of domestic violence and provides recommendations to bridge the national and regional gaps.