It is “time for justice,” says the EU Commission President – and announces an EU law that is to regulate the fight against violence against women throughout the EU for the first time. The network also comes into focus.
According to the EU Commission, women in Europe must be given much better protection against rape and harassment.
The Brussels authorities therefore proposed a law on Tuesday that regulates the fight against violence against women for the first time throughout the EU. “I want a society where violence against women is prevented, condemned and prosecuted when it happens. It is time to ensure justice and equality, »said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Specifically, the proposal, which the EU states and the European Parliament must now negotiate, provides for the introduction of “rape without consent” and female genital mutilation as criminal offenses across the EU. Cyber violence should also be criminalized. This includes, for example, sharing intimate photos without consent, online stalking and inciting violence and hatred on the Internet. The EU Commission also proposed how long the maximum prison sentences for certain offenses should be: at least eight years for rape, five for female genital mutilation, and two years for cyber-stalking.
In addition, the EU Commission proposed gender-sensitive and more accessible reporting channels for such violent crimes, which should increase the rate of reported cases. Professionals such as psychiatrists or healthcare workers should also not be prevented from reporting reasonable suspicion of an “imminent risk of serious physical harm” due to confidentiality regulations.
Evidence and questions concerning the victims’ private lives should be used with extreme caution in court proceedings. In addition, those affected should be entitled to compensation from the perpetrator, for example for lost income, medical care or psychological damage. There must also be specialized and free help phones that can be reached around the clock.
Source: Stern
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