A new study by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that 12% of women in Austria aged between 15 and 19 have already endured physical or sexual violence at the hands of a male intimate partner, highlighting that violence against women often begins in their youth.
The study also revealed that 5% of female adolescents in Austria have experienced such violence within the past year.
“Intimate partner violence is a serious public health and human rights problem endemic to all countries” WHO researchers wrote in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health magazine.
Over 27% of women aged 15–49 worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at least once, with 13% facing it in the past year.
The findings are based on an analysis of WHO databases.
“Overall, the prevalence of both lifetime (154 countries) and past-year (157 countries) intimate partner violence against adolescent girls was higher in low-income and lower-middle-income countries and regions than in high-income countries and regions,” the paper states. “Countries with higher rates of female secondary school enrolment and those with inheritance laws that are more gender-equal had lower prevalence of intimate partner violence against adolescent girls.”
The issue is not solely tied to poverty. Even in countries with a high gross national product, the problem remains widespread: in the Asia-Pacific region, 16% of young women suffer physical or sexual violence (7% within the past year). In Western Europe, the figure stands at 18% (6% within the past year), and in North America, it is 19% over a lifetime and 11% in the previous year.
Among Austria’s neighbours, Switzerland fares slightly better, with 10% of women aged 15–19 experiencing violence at least once in their lives and 3% in the past year. In Italy, the figures are 14% and 5%, respectively. The study did not provide data for Germany, but in France, 18% of women reported experiencing violence in their lifetime, with 7% having done so in the past year. In Spain, the figures were 12% and 4%, respectively.
In Austria, the issue of violence against women remains stark, with around three women being killed every month, according to the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters (AÖF). In 2023, 42 women were killed, marking a new record high.
