EU-wide rules to combat violence against women
The EU Commission’s annual report on gender equality shows failing to address violence against women and domestic violence costs an estimated Euro 289 billion a year. To combat violence against women and domestic violence, the Commission has proposed EU-wide rules in a directive that will criminalize rape based on lack of consent, female genital mutilation and cyber violence.
The cyber violence addressed includes non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyber stalking; cyber harassment; and cyber incitement to violence or hatred.
The Commission says the new rules strengthen victims’ access to justice and encourage member states to implement a one-stop shop mechanism, meaning that all support and protection services would be located in the same place.
“The victims should be able to claim compensation in the course of criminal proceedings. The proposal also calls for adequate and specialised protection and support, for instance, through free of charge helplines and rape crisis centres. It also provides for targeted support for groups with specific needs or at risk, including women fleeing armed conflict”, the Commission says.
The proposal complements the Digital Services Act (DSA) by defining illegal online content related to cyber violence.
Under reporting of violence against women still exists today. The directive proposes new ways to report acts of violence, which are gender-sensitive, safer, easier, more accessible – including online – and child-friendly.
“Professionals, such as healthcare workers or psychiatrists, would no longer be hindered by confidentiality regimes to report any reasonable suspicions of an imminent risk of serious physical harm. Authorities would also be obliged to conduct individual risk assessments when the victim first makes contact, to assess the risk posed by the offender. On this basis, authorities would need to provide immediate protection through emergency barring or protection orders.”
The Commission is proposing that evidence or questions relating to the victims’ private life, especially their sexual history, can only be used when strictly necessary.
“Victims would have the right to claim full compensation from offenders for damages, including the costs of healthcare, support services, lost income, physical and psychological harm. They should also be able to obtain compensation in the course of criminal proceedings.”
The Commission says that violence against women and domestic violence are pervasive throughout the EU and are estimated to affect 1 in 3 women in the EU. One in two have experienced sexual harassment. One in 20 women report having been raped.
Online violence is also on the rise, targeting in particular women in public life, such as journalists and politicians. 1 in 2 young women experienced gender-based cyber violence.
Women also experience violence at work: about a third of women in the EU who have faced sexual harassment experienced it at work.
Moonshot News is an independent European news website for all IT, Media and Advertising professionals, powered by women and with a focus on driving the narrative for diversity, inclusion and gender equality in the industry.
Our mission is to provide top and unbiased information for all professionals and to make sure that women get their fair share of voice in the news and in the spotlight!
We produce original content, news articles, a curated calendar of industry events and a database of women IT, Media and Advertising associations.
