This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Slovenia 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 Slovenia.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, women comprised 91 % of victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police (797 out of 872).
- In the same year, women comprised 73 % of victims of domestic violence recorded by police (2,052 out of 2,822).
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Homicide
- In 2022, women represented most victims of intimate partner homicide (70 %) and domestic homicide (63 %) recorded by police.
- Police recorded 27 women victims of homicide in any relationship in the year 2022.
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Rape
- 90 % of victims of rape committed by any perpetrator are women (according to data from 2022).
- In 2022, police recorded 200 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator.
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Perpetrators reported for violence
- In 2022, 793 men were reported for intimate partner violence against women and 1,894 men were reported for domestic violence against women.
- Most men reported for intimate partner violence and domestic violence had committed violence against women.
Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence and domestic violence
EIGE’s police indicators mainly collect data on victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence and violence in ‘any relationship’. EIGE defines a victim as ‘a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence’.
Findings from EIGE’s latest data collection exercise show that intimate partner violence and domestic violence have the greatest impact on women. Women in Slovenia comprise 91 % of intimate partner violence victims and 73 % of domestic violence victims recorded by police (based on data from 2022).
At the same time, women represent less victims of violence in a broader context. In 2022, 41 % of victims of violence in ‘any relationship’ recorded by police were women.
Figure 2 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and violence in any relationship (Indicator 1), 2022
Intimate partner violence
EIGE defines intimate partner violence as ‘any act of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occurs between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim’.
In Slovenia, no legal definition of intimate partner violence exists. Intimate partner violence is considered a form of domestic violence. However, police data is available on victims of violence committed by intimate partners.
Victims of intimate partner violence
In Slovenia, women represent most victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police (91 % in 2022). In 2022, police recorded 797 women victims of violence committed by an intimate partner.
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
Results of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV survey) show that 28 % of ever-partnered women in Slovenia have experienced psychological, physical (including threats), or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence
During EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Slovenia shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
EIGE’s data shows that police record a greater number of women victims of physical intimate partner violence than of psychological intimate partner violence each year. However, data from the EU-GBV survey reveals that experiences of psychological violence may be more common amongst women.
While 9.4 % of ever-partnered women in Slovenia have experienced physical intimate partner violence (including threats) during their lifetime, 26 % have experienced psychological intimate partner violence. The gap between administrative and survey data suggests that victims of psychological violence are less likely to report to the police than those of physical violence. This might also mean that individuals facing psychological abuse may not fully recognise it as reportable violence.
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 Slovenia, domestic violence is criminalised under Article 191 of the Penal Code. Moreover, the Family Violence Prevention Act (ZPND) states that “family violence denotes any form of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence exerted by one family member against the other, regardless of the age, sex or any other personal circumstance of the victim or perpetrator of violence.
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Slovenia (73 %). In 2022, 2,052 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police. It should be noted that the data below on victims of domestic violence includes victims of intimate partner violence.
Figure 5 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
The police data recorded in Slovenia sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU-GBV survey also show that 15 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator during adulthood.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Slovenia shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 6 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
Homicide: 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 Slovenia. However, data is available on women killed by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators, and any perpetrator.
Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner homicide and domestic homicide
Women represent most victims of homicide committed by intimate partners (70 %) and domestic perpetrators (63 %), based on data from 2022. Conversely, women comprise a small share of victims of homicide by any perpetrator (26 %).
Figure 7 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide, and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2022
Number of women victims of homicide
In 2022, 27 women victims of homicide were recorded by police. In the same year, police recorded 10 women victims of domestic homicide, and 7 women victims of intimate partner homicide.
It is important to note that the data below also encompasses non-intentional homicides. This can include incidents unrelated to gender-based violence, such as unintentional traffic accidents.
Figure 8 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide, and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
Most femicide victims experience non-lethal forms of gender-based violence before they are killed. Femicide is often the culmination of a pattern of abuse.
According to the EU-GBV survey, only 25 % of victims of intimate partner violence in Slovenia report to police. For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness on the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Rape: Number of women victims
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 Slovenia, rape is criminalised under Article 180 of the Criminal Code, defining it as an act where an individual ‘forces a person of the opposite or the same sex to have sexual intercourse by using force or threatening a direct attack on life or body’.
Women are the main victims that suffer from rape
Findings from EIGE’s data collection exercise show that, in 2022, 28 out of 29 victims of intimate partner rape recorded by police were women (97 %).
Similarly, women comprised 87 % of victims of domestic rape recorded by police (79 out of 91), and 90 % of victims of rape by any perpetrator (200 out of 223).
Figure 9 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape, and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2022
In 2022, the police recorded even higher numbers of victims of sexual violence committed by intimate partners (see the section ‘Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence’) and domestic perpetrators (see the section ‘Victims of specific forms of domestic violence’). This is because sexual violence encompasses a wider range of offences, including rape and sexual assault.
Number of women victims of rape
The figure below displays the number of women victims of rape recorded by police between 2014-2022.
Figure 10 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape, and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
Perpetrators of intimate partner and 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.
Perpetrators of intimate partner violence
In 2022, 793 men were reported for intimate partner violence against women. EIGE’s data also shows that during the year, 99 % of men reported for intimate partner violence had committed violence against women.
Figure 11 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for intimate partner violence against female and total victims (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
Perpetrators of domestic violence
In 2022, 1,849 men were reported for domestic violence against women. Findings from the data collection exercise show, during the same year, 81 % of men reported for domestic violence had committed violence against women.
Figure 12 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence against female and total victims (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Slovenia underscore the persistent threat of intimate partner violence and 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 Slovenia, police data is widely available on victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on victims of specific forms of violence, including physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence.
Data is available on victims of homicide committed by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators, and any perpetrator. Similarly, data has been shared on victims of rape by different types of perpetrators.
Justice sector data is limited in Slovenia. Data is not available on protection orders for victims of intimate partner or domestic violence. Moreover, while EIGE retrieved data on perpetrators reported to police for intimate partner violence and domestic violence, no data has been retrieved on men prosecuted, sentenced, 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 and domestic violence.
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