Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future?

As 2030 approaches, achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women, appears increasingly unrealistic. Using the European Union as a case study, this Perspective argues that prevalence remains high, progress has stagnated, levels can be disproportionately high in some of the most socioeconomically advanced and gender-equal countries, and prevention efforts seem unable to reach younger generations. Together, these patterns suggest that prevention and response efforts, as implemented to date, have not produced sustained population-level reductions. Achieving measurable declines will require scaling evidence-based prevention with sustained political will and stronger accountability. This Perspective argues that violence against women remains persistently high, in some of the most socioeconomically advanced and gender-equal countries as well. Progress has stagnated and prevention efforts seem unable to reach younger generations.