Violence Against Women – Be Part of the Solution ⚖️

Several recent events have moved me as a person, as a woman and as a mother – to reflect on what is happening around us. Shortly after the murder of Lisa, just two days ago in Diemen, bystanders caught a man in the act of committing a sexual crime.

On behalf of every woman – thank you!

Not all men are violent; many can be counted on. But besides the violent and the “normal” there are also men who may not be labeled as violent yet often push boundaries, testing their masculinity in various ways – in their behaviours toward women they know, and those they don’t.

I still ask myself how many cases never make it into the news? And how many times have women remained alone, unprotected and without witnesses?

Along the way, I came across a statement by Elon Musk: “Why do they allow the rape of Europe?” – a sentence in which the word “rape” was used as a weapon for political commentary. The headline itself is misplaced, but it made me want to check his claims.

The number of sexual violence crimes in the EU has been rising for years – between 2013 and 2023, reported rapes increased by more than 140%. Still, this rise does not necessarily mean more crimes are happening today than before. The definition of rape has changed, and amendments have been introduced in the area of sexual harassment. Violence against women is no longer seen only as physical – growing attention is now given to psychological and verbal abuse.

Since July 1, 2024, a law has been in force in the Netherlands making sexual harassment in public spaces a criminal offense – from catcalling, inappropriate comments and gestures, to unwanted physical contact. This is a step forward, but in practice, I believe proving such cases may be challenging.

I also believe that in recent years, women have been raised to speak less in silence and more out loud – leading to a greater willingness to report. Still, numbers and laws remain only the surface. Behind them are still women who remain silent – out of shame, fear of family, the system, society and judgment.

Why don’t victims report?

Because most still feel unprotected. Perpetrators can be part of the community, family members, acquaintances, or complete strangers. Legal procedures are slow, evidence often hard to obtain, and punishments for offenders too lenient or merely symbolic. Meanwhile, the victim remains exposed to threats and repeated violence.

But the reasons are not only legal.

Many women remain silent for fear of being judged. Shame, distrust in institutions, and the feeling that no one will believe them often become stronger than the desire for justice. In the end, every report carries the risk that society will judge the victim instead of the perpetrator. And every crime left unreported opens the door for another – maybe tomorrow against someone close to us.

Of course, there are situations where no reaction from bystanders could change the outcome – because the abuser does not ask for permission, he chooses the place and time, and he takes by force. In those cases, the sole responsibility lies with him.

Unfortunately, these “walking bombs” cannot be recognized, because they walk among us in human form.

But that does not mean we, as a society, cannot reduce the space in which such individuals feel free to act. Prevention begins long before the physical attack – on the street, in “jokes,” in comments, in lingering stares. If we take a stronger stand there, if we each react within our own surroundings, if we set clearer boundaries than ever before – we send the message that women are not objects on which masculinity is tested.

Even if we cannot prevent every attack, we can create a climate in which such attacks are less likely. We can agree that violence has many faces – and that none of them are acceptable anymore.

That is why we must change what we can, what is within our hands. Because unfortunately, we cannot all be everywhere at all times.

Do you agree?

Then from now on, condemn every form of violence against women directly, and be a judge of justice for women’s safety.⚖️

Every movement in the world – from MeToo and beyond – began with ordinary women who chose to speak up. Only when public figures joined them did they gain global visibility. But the root of change always lies in the individual – in the one who speaks, and in the one who chooses to listen.

⚖️ Justice begins with us.