Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU has introduced new laws to combat violence against women and domestic violence, addressing the urgent need for protection and justice for an estimated one in three women in the region. These laws criminalize various forms of violence, including online abuse, and aim to strengthen victims’ access to support and justice. They also address female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and cyber violence. Member States are required to implement these measures by June 2027, marking a significant step towards eradicating gender-based violence in the EU.
In an effort to address the pervasive issue of violence against women, the EU has enacted comprehensive new laws that criminalize various forms of gender-based violence, including online abuse. The legislation seeks to enhance victims’ access to justice and support, while also targeting practices like female genital mutilation and forced marriage. These measures must be implemented by Member States by June 2027, representing a crucial move towards eliminating violence against women across the EU.
EU Enacts Comprehensive Laws to Combat Violence Against Women
New laws to combat violence against women have now entered into force. Violence against women and domestic violence affect an estimated one in three of the 228 million women in the EU.
However, a new EU wide law aims to offer much needed help and support to victims. It seeks to criminalized certain forms of violence against women across the EU27, including online abuse. It also hopes to strengthen victims’ access to justice, protection and support.
The EU Directive, said an EC spokesman, wants to “ensure the fundamental rights of equal treatment and non-discrimination between women and men.” The new rules are “decisive”, he said, against gender-based violence and also ban female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
Another target is combating forms of cyber violence, such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (including deepfakes), cyber stalking and cyber harassment (including cyber flashing).
“Cyber violence is an urgent issue to address, given the exponential spread and dramatic impact of violence online,” he said. The new EU rules will help victims of cyber violence in Member States that did not yet criminalize these acts, he noted.
Further comment comes from Věra Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, who told this site, “For the first time ever, we criminalise gender-based cyber violence, such as non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including deepfakes, which is a nightmare for many women.
“Such violence is often the reason why women leave public life. Online violence is real violence and violence against women is an every minute problem.” Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality added: “This Directive offers a thorough response to a pervasive issue.
“It addresses the prevention of gender-based violence, the protection and support of victims, and the adequate punishment for perpetrators. This is an important step toward eradicating violence against women and domestic violence.” Member States have until 14 June 2027 to transpose the Directive into their national law.
