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Two-fifths of the population have experienced at least one situation of violence in their lifetime
Gender Based Violence Survey in Portugal
Two-fifths of the population have experienced at least one situation of violence in their lifetime - 2022
19 December 2023

Summary

The results of the Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces reveal that more than 1.4 million people aged 18 to 74 have experienced violence during childhood (18.6%), up to the age of 15: more than 1.3 million people (17.6%) with both parents have been subjected to some kind of psychological or physical abuse from their parents, and more than 176 thousand (2.3%) have been victims of sexual abuse during childhood by someone.

One in every five people has been the victim of stalking (20.7%), a higher proportion among women (23.8%), the younger population (27.6%) and those with a higher level of education (29.0%).

Considering all contexts of violence throughout life, more than two-fifths of the population (44.8%) have experienced at least one situation of violence. The Alentejo region stands out with the lowest proportion (37.8%), while the autonomous regions of Madeira (48.1%) and Açores (46.9%) and Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (46.8%) have the highest proportions. The prevalence of violence is higher among those with a higher level of education (49.4%).

Considering only violence against women, Portugal generally belongs to the group of European Union countries with the lowest proportions of violence.

Victims of non-partner violence were the most likely to report their experiences of violence (66.8%) and victims of sexual violence during childhood were the most likely to keep silent (29.4%). Around half of the victims in an intimate context spoke to someone or some organisation about what happened.

Psychological and physical consequences as a result of the violence were most frequently mentioned by victims of intimate partner violence.

More than three-quarters of the population (75.8%) consider intimate partner violence against women to be very common. More than two-fifths (42.0%) have a similar opinion of violence against men by female partners.

Awareness of the various support services/structures for victims was lower among the group of people who had already experienced some type of violence.


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