Criminogenic Approach to the Dimension and Dynamics of Gender-Based Violence: A Particular View on Violence against Women

Gender-based violence is a challenge of the current society. The discrimination against women in considering the dominant role of men, regarding the position of power, and, at the same time, the emphasis of gender inequalities are factors generating gender-based violence—a phenomenon faced by the whole world-wide society. The right to life, gender equality, prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of sex, protection of physical integrity, and the right to health are fundamental human rights impacted by gender-based violence, safeguarded by many instruments acting at the international level. The Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) is the reference instrument in matters of combating gender-based violence, campaigning for equality between men and women and for protection of women against all forms of violence. Therefore, we now have a comprehensive legal framework where violence against women is considered a serious violation of human rights and, at the same time, a form of discrimination of women in society. The accelerated increase of gender-based violence made the European Union intensify its efforts against such phenomenon, and therefore, on June 1, 2023, there was the adhesion of the EU to the Istanbul Convention, Decision (EU) 2023/1075 and Decision (EU) 2023/1076, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L 1431 of June 2, 2023.