This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Poland during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Key findings of EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise
The figure below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Poland.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of domestic violence
- In 2022, 51,935 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
- Women represented 73 % of domestic violence victims recorded in 2022.
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Femicide
- In 2022, 91 women victims of intentional homicide were recorded by police.
- Women represented 34 % of victims of intentional homicide recorded in 2022.
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Rape
- In 2022, 585 women victims of any rape were recorded by police.
- Women represented almost all (95 %) of rape victims during that year.
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Protecting victims of domestic violence
- In 2022, 6,294 protection orders were granted to total victims of domestic violence.
- Data is not available on protection orders granted specifically to women victims.
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Perpetrators of domestic violence
- In 2022, 55,426 men were reported to police for domestic violence.
- In the same year, far fewer were sentenced (11,786) for their crimes.
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim’.
In Poland, domestic violence is defined under Article 2 of the Act of 29 July 2005 on counteracting domestic violence (amended on June 22, 2023) and applies to family members, current and former spouses and partners, minors, cohabitants and any related ascendant and descendant. Domestic violence refers to ‘a single or repeated intentional act or omission taking physical, mental or economic advantage and violating the rights of the person suffering domestic violence, in particular, by exposing that person to a risk of loss of life, health or property; violating their dignity, bodily integrity or freedom, including sexual freedom, causing damage to their physical or mental health; limiting or depriving that person of access to financial resources or the ability to take up work or achieve financial independence; significantly violating the privacy of that person or causing them to feel threatened, humiliated or tormented, including via electronic means of communication.’
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Poland (73 %). In 2022, 51,935 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
Figure 2 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
The police data recorded in Poland sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV survey) also show that, during adulthood, 12 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator.
Femicide: Number of women killed
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
There is no legal definition of femicide in Poland. However, data is available on female victims of homicide in any relationship.
In 2022, 91 women victims of homicide were recorded by police. Women represent 34 % victims of homicide, based on data from 2022.
Figure 3 Proportion of female and total victims of homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
Most femicide victims experience non-lethal forms of gender-based violence before they are killed. Femicide often represents the culmination of a pattern of abuse.
According to the EU-GBV survey, women victims of intimate partner violence experience significant consequences to their mental and physical wellbeing. However, only 31 % of women victims of intimate partner violence in Poland report to police. For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness on the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Sexual violence: Victims of rape and sexual assault
EIGE defines rape as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
In Poland, rape is criminalised under Article 197 of the Criminal Code. It outlines punishments for ‘whoever, by force, unlawful threat or deceit, causes another person to have sexual intercourse'.
Victims of rape
In 2022, 585 women victims of rape by any perpetrator were recorded by police. Women represented almost all (95 %) of rape victims during the year (585 out of 615).
Figure 4 Proportion of female victims of rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2016-2022
Victims of rape and sexual assault
In 2022, police recorded even higher numbers of victims of sexual violence. This is because sexual violence encompasses a wider range of offences, including rape and sexual assault. EIGE’s findings show, in 2022, 916 women victims of sexual violence were recorded by police. During the year, women comprised 94 % of victims of sexual violence (916 out of 977).
Figure 5 Proportion of female victims of sexual violence in any relationship (Indicator 6), 2016-2022
Protecting victims of violence
A protection order, in the context of violence against women, is defined as ‘a legal injunction that requires an offender to refrain from doing certain acts and to stay away from the victim’. Protection orders can be adopted under criminal or civil laws. They are fast legal remedies to protect people at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrators.
In 2022, 6,294 protection orders were granted to total victims of domestic violence. Data on protection orders specifically granted to women victims of domestic violence is not available in Poland.
Figure 6 Annual number of protection orders granted to total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 10), 2014-2022
The annual number of protection orders granted to victims of domestic violence increased notably between the years 2020 and 2021. The increase can be attributed to legislative changes adopted in November 2020, which authorise police officers to issue orders requiring perpetrators of domestic violence to immediately vacate a shared residence and its vicinity.
Perpetrators of domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence’.
Most of EIGE’s indicators collect data on all perpetrators (including male and female perpetrators). However, the data for indicators 3 and 11–13 (on perpetrators reported, prosecuted, sentenced and held in prison) refers strictly to male perpetrators.
In 2022, 55,426 men were reported to police for domestic violence against total victims. Data on perpetrators reported for domestic violence against women is not available in Poland.
Figure 7 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
In 2022, far fewer men were sentenced (11,786) for domestic violence against total victims.
Figure 8 Annual number of male perpetrators sentenced for domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 12), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Poland underscore the persistent threat of domestic violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Poland, police data is available on victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. However, data is not available on specific forms of violence, such as physical, psychological, or economic violence. Moreover, no data has been retrieved on intimate partner violence.
Data is available on victims of homicide, rape, and sexual violence. However, these figures are not disaggregated by victim-perpetrator relationship. The data refers to violence committed by any perpetrator.
Justice sector data is also limited in Poland. Data is available on protection orders granted to victims of domestic violence. However, no data has been shared on protection orders for female victims of domestic violence, or for victims of intimate partner violence.
While data providers in Poland have shared data on male perpetrators reported and sentenced for domestic violence, data is not available on perpetrators prosecuted or held in prison for their crimes. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence