Every 2.5 days in 2008, a woman died of physical abuse from her partner in France.
In France, 410,000 adult women stated being victims of physical abuse from a partner or ex-partner in 2006.
In Spain, 76 women were killed in 2008 by their partner or ex-partner. (Delegación Especial de Gobierno contra la Violencia sobre la Mujer)

Domestic Violence or Spousal abuse (or intimate partner abuse) comprises all acts of violence committed by one spouse or partner...
...against the other, that cause or may cause injury, prejudice and physical, sexual or mental suffering to the victim, including threats of such acts, pressure or arbitrary deprivation of liberty (humiliation, verbal abuse, threats, psychological pressure, physical abuse, sexual abuse, rape).
This type of violence may be perpetrated by a current intimate partner (spouse by law or custom) or an ex-partner.
Source: French Ministry of Labour, Social Relations, Family and Solidarity
Rape is defined as a non-consensual sexual act forced upon the victim by physical force or coercion, including but not limited to vaginal, anal or oral penetration. This type of sexual violence is sometimes used among other as a “weapon of war” in armed conflicts.
Domestic violence or “intimate partner violence” is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviours including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion used by adults or adolescents against their current or former intimate partners.
Source: quoted from Behind Closed Doors, Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, joint report published by Body Shop International, UNICEF and the UN Secretary General.
http://www.uam.mx/cdi/piingles/avisos/svith_report.pdf
Sexual violence is a pervasive global health and human rights problem. In some countries approximately one in four women may experience sexual violence by an intimate partner. Sexual violence has profound immediate and long-term consequences on women's physical and mental health.
Source: WHO http://www.who.int/gender/violence/sexual_violence/en/index.html
The following may be qualified as sexual violence:
- Rape or attempted rape
- Sexual assaults
- Incest
- Sexual harassment
- Paedophilia
- Female genital mutilation
- and any other forms of non-consensual sexual physical abuse