Strasbourg: Violence against women: EU votes for stricter rules

The EU Parliament has voted for a regulation with which sexual and domestic violence will be punished more harshly across the EU in the future. Cyber ​​stalking, forced marriage, female genital mutilation or sending intimate images without consent should in future be punishable by law throughout the EU, a majority of MEPs decided in Strasbourg.

In addition, those affected must have access to protected accommodation. In future, Member State authorities will also have to make the public aware that non-consensual sexual acts are considered a criminal offence.

approval and criticism

The German Women’s Council welcomed the directive. “Violence against women and girls is the most widespread human rights violation,” said board member Sylvia Haller of the German Press Agency. “That’s why the EU directive is such an outstanding milestone for protection against violence.” However, she complained about a serious “gap in the crime of rape.”

The directive did not regulate EU-wide standards on rape. Parliament had called for such a regulation, according to which every sexual act must be consented to: only yes means yes. However, several countries in the EU, including Germany, blocked this.

The critics argued that there was no legal basis in European law for such a uniform regulation and that the EU might be exceeding its competences. A corresponding article therefore did not make it into law. Previously, more than a hundred prominent women had written an open letter calling on Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) to give up the blockade.

The EU states still have to approve the project. But that is considered a formality. The member states then have three years to implement the provisions.