Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Council has approved groundbreaking legislation to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The directive mandates the criminalization of various offences and ensures protection and support for victims across EU member states.
The European Council has shown the green light to an EU directive to fight violence against women and domestic violence. Taking decisive steps against these acts of violence is essential to ensure the importance and fundamental rights of equality between women and men and of non-discrimination. The law mandates all EU countries to criminalise female genital mutilation, forced marriage and cyber violence such as the non-consensual sharing of private images.
The new law also includes measures to prevent violence against women and domestic violence and establishes standards for the protection of victims of these crimes.
What Offenses Are Criminalized in the EU’s New Directive?
The law was assumed to criminalise the following offences across the EU: female genital mutilation, forced marriage, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberstalking, cyber harassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence.
Executing these crimes will be punishable by prison penalties ranging from at least one to five years. The directive also comes with an ample list of aggravating circumstances, such as committing the offence against a child, an ex or current spouse or partner a public representative, a journalist or a human rights defender, which carry more severe penalties.
How Does the EU Directive Protect Victims of Violence?
The directive also includes detailed rules on the criteria of assistance and protection that member states should provide to victims.
It will become more manageable for victims of violence against women and domestic violence to register a crime. As a minimum, it will be achievable to report cybercrimes online. EU countries must also set measures in place to ensure that children are aided by professionals. When children report a crime perpetrated by someone with parental responsibility, authorities will have to take steps to protect the safety of the child before informing the alleged perpetrator.
In order to preserve a victim’s privacy and prevent repeat victimisation, member states must furthermore ensure that proof relating to the victim’s past sexual behaviour should only be permitted in criminal proceedings when it is relevant and necessary.
With the idea of producing a safer future, preventive measures seek to increase awareness of the root reasons for violence against women and domestic violence and to encourage the central role of consent in sexual relationships.
Who Were Key Figures in Drafting the Legislation?
Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice said, “Violence against women and domestic brutality is a persisting crime. This law will ensure EU-wide that its perpetrators will be firmly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need”
Marie-Colline Leroy, Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality expressed, “This is a groundbreaking moment in boosting women’s rights. Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen.”
The Commission (Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourová and Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli) presented the proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence on 8 March 2022. Frances Fitzgerald and Evin Incir were the European Parliament’s rapporteurs for this document and the agreement between Council and Parliament was acquired on 6 February 2024.
