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MEPs approve EU law to combat violence against women
The European Parliament today approved in Strasbourg (France) for the first time legislation at the level of the European Union (EU) to combat violence against women, which includes forced marriage and female genital mutilation as crimes.
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Mundo UE
The new legislation, which had already been the subject of a political agreement between the Parliament and the Council (EU member states) in February, and which also includes measures to prevent rape, stricter rules on ‘cyber violence’ and better support for victims, was overwhelmingly approved by 522 votes in favour, 27 against and 72 abstentions, during the final plenary session of the current parliamentary term (2019-2024), ahead of the European elections in June.
In addition to female genital mutilation and forced marriage becoming crimes under EU law, the new directive (EU law) provides for specific rules on online crimes, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and so-called ‘cyberflashing’ (sending intimate images, such as nude photos or videos of genitals, without the recipient’s consent).
The new legislation also includes a longer list of aggravating circumstances for crimes, including those committed against public figures, journalists or human rights defenders, those motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, social origin or political beliefs, and those intended to preserve or restore ‘honour’.
Under the new rules, member states must also ensure better procedures for the safety and health of victims, taking into account intersectional discrimination and access to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.
In addition to strengthening the reporting and collection of evidence by authorities, the new law, which seeks to help prevent rape, requires member states to raise awareness that non-consensual sex is a criminal offence.
“For the first time, the EU sends a clear message that we take violence against women seriously as an existential threat to our security. Together, almost 450 million people and three institutions say we will not tolerate it”, said one of the Parliament’s rapporteurs, Irish MEP Frances Fitzgerald (EPP).
Both Fitzgerald and the other rapporteur, Swedish MEP Evin Incir (S&D), regretted that some political groups in the Parliament had blocked the inclusion in the legislation of a crime of rape based on consent, but stressed that it nevertheless “takes important steps forward in prevention, protection and prosecution”.
Member states will have three years to transpose the new EU rules into national law.
Read also: João Oliveira recusa fixar objetivos "excessivamente otimistas" (Portuguese version)
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