Gender-based violence: Evidence from Europe

Background: This special issue presents research undertaken in Europe on gender-based violence. The articles illustrate the range of European research reflecting the very different levels of gender equality, violence awareness, and policy and service development across the continent. While the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention approved in 2011 provides an influential framework for the evolution of law, policy, practice, and research on violence against women, it is as yet unevenly implemented. Key points: This high degree of variation argues for attention to context in research on gender-based violence so that cultural understandings and the local service landscape inform the generation and translation of knowledge and interventions. The articles included here address some prominent themes in current European research: The impact of interpersonal violence and abuse on children and young people; men's roles as perpetrators, fathers, and victims; and the importance of particular settings and identities for understanding and responding to gender-based violence. We also identify some gaps and directions for future research. Implications: While the European Union has done much to foster the growth of research and the transfer of knowledge on gender-based violence across Europe, at the time of writing, its future looks less secure, and this is paralleled by political change in the United States. This loss of support from the center requires researchers and others to give more attention to mechanisms by which research and its products can be communicated and shared within and across continents.