In February 2024, her 23-year-old pregnant mother, Theodora Marc, was shot dead in front of her 3-year-old daughter and other children by her ex-partner.
The 49-year-old Robert Loop murderer had a documented history of abuse. Marc had filed multiple complaints against him. She died alone on the sidewalk, unprecedentedly, but she “screamsed” about the matter for months.
Marc’s story is no exception. It is a cruel reminder of a crisis that doesn’t know borders.
All over Europe, domestic violence continues to claim life and ruin the future. Despite years of awareness campaigns, legislative efforts and protests, recent data shows domestic violence is stubbornly widespread, and in some countries it has worsened and shows the case is far more cruel.
Germany: Tough Milestones
In Germany, new numbers released by the Federal Criminal Police Station in June 2024 show a nasty high. Last year, 256,276 people were victims of domestic violence, up 6.5% from 2022. Most calm: 155 women were killed by current or former partners in 2023.
Despite Germany’s strong legal framework, data signal systematic obstacles. “The increasing number means more women are moving forward,” said a spokesman for the Berlin-based Crisis Centre. “But that also means we haven’t stopped violence. We’re just counting it.”
Greece: High numbers, high stakes
In Greece, police data for 2023 shows that the number of domestic violence cases remained largely changing until 2022, twice the number recorded in 2020. 59.6% of cases occurred within a romantic partnership, with 29.7% of perpetrators being spouses and 13.8% being live-in partners.
Greece also saw the 12 feminisms that the male family is most devoted to. A digital “panic button” app was rolled out in 2023, helping women to carefully warn police during violent episodes. In 2024, the app was expanded nationwide and opened to male victims. Regardless of whether police response times match with follow-throughs, urgency remains an open question.
Portugal: Surge in calls for help
Domestic violence is also on the rise in Portugal, at least from a consciousness perspective. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of victims seeking support from the Portuguese Victims Association (APAV) rose 29.3%, with a total of 43,110 cases. Experts attribute it to the prolonged effects of the pandemic lockdown, which has intensified domestic tensions and isolated casualties, and the rise in media coverage of war and conflict, particularly the war and conflict, as well as violence.
“Now people know better about abuse,” explained the Apav counselor. “But there’s still a long way to go before they feel fully protected.”
Spain: Less reports, more convictions
Spain presents complex paintings. In 2024, 34,684 women were registered as victims of domestic or gender-based violence. This is a 5.2% decrease from the previous year. However, paradoxically, the number of convicted abusers rose to 39,056. This is the highest number since 2015.
The relationship between the victim and the abuser was varied. 39.9% were partners or ex-partners, 37.8% were (ex-)girlfriends, and 21.4% were (Ex-)spouses.
Spain’s professional courts of gender violence and long-standing advocacy movement may explain the rise in convictions. However, activists warn that fewer reported cases do not necessarily mean less violence.
Bulgaria: Protest, not progress
Domestic violence continues to be underreported and an unaddressed issue in Bulgaria. The 2023 incident shocked the country when an 18-year-old woman named Deborah was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend with a razor blade. She survived, but eventually ended with 400 stitches, and her long hair was shaved.
The incident sparked public protest and updated the demand for legislative reform. Bulgarian laws have long excluded protections for victims who do not live with abusers, with 12 parts of the country without critical shelters.
Activists point to the failure to ratify the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty designed to combat violence against women, as the root cause of systemic neglect.
“The law is written for a version of abuse that hardly reflects real life,” said one Sofia protester. “We bury women every year, but politicians discuss definitions.”
Despite the different legal frameworks and public responses, the throughline is clear. Domestic violence in Europe remains a persistent and deadly epidemic. While awareness and reporting has improved in some countries, law enforcement gaps, legal protections and survivor support continue to put lives at risk.
Deborah in Bulgaria is “lucky” because she is alive. However, for two years, she has not yet been closed and has been forced to stand up against offenders in court. He was released for a while before he was re-registered.
Romanian’s Theodora Marc is dead. And while there are still protests, dozens of women and men are abused by their partners every day. Some prefer to remain silent, others scream about it, others continue to become victims.
