Violence against women: Belgian presidency seals deal on first-ever EU law

The Belgian presidency has reached an important milestone in the fight against gender-based violence when finding a provisional agreement with the European Parliament for a new EU law on violence against women and domestic violence.

After almost two years of intense negotiations, an agreement was found on the EU’s first legislation on fighting violence against women and domestic violence. The new directive will ensure a minimum standard of protection across the EU and will be a major step forward in the fight against this type of violence in the EU and in the much needed protection of victims.

Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea: “For many women in Europe, sexual violence, domestic violence, street harassment or online abuse are daily threats. Moreover, women all too often pay with their lives for relationship breakups. Even forced marriages and genital mutilation have not been completely eradicated from our society. We must put an end to this.”

With the new directive, the member states are taking important steps to collectively stand up against these severe crimes, both through an emphasis on prevention and consistent punishment.

Paul Van Tigchelt
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea

In line with the EU treaties, minimum standards are now set for crimes such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation. It is highly symbolic that the agreement was reached on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

The new criminalisation regarding forms of cyberviolence is an important innovation within an international context. Cyberviolence disproportionately affects women and girls and can have the effect of silencing them. Throughout Europe, we have unfortunately seen many cases in which online bullying has had detrimental consequences for the mental health of victims, in extreme cases leading to suicide.

This sad reality has prompted individual member states, such as Belgium and Ireland with Coco’s law, to adopt legislation to fight cyber violence. The new directive will raise the bar at EU level and criminalises non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyber harassment, cyber stalking and online incitement to hatred or violence.

More than a minimum set of rules, the text will provide a strong basis for improving access to justice, standards, understanding and awareness of gender-based violence within the EU and beyond.

Victims of cyber violence will be able to report crimes online. All victims of gender-based violence, including rape and sexual assault, will have access to improved support and protection that takes into account their specific individual needs. The expertise of all relevant professionals will be further developed through training and guidelines to ensure a victim-centred approach at all stages of proceedings.

Even though the co-legislators did not find an agreement on the harmonisation of the crime of rape, a clear commitment is made for a safer future for all EU citizens. Awareness-raising campaigns will be organised to ensure that current and future generations know that any form of non-consensual sex is a crime.

Marie-Colline Leroy, Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality, commented: “Thanks to this directive, the EU is providing itself with a common legal framework, including in the new area of cyber violence. The directive has a strong chapter on prevention to act against underlying patterns of coercion, power and control. What is more, the directive takes specific rape prevention measures and promotes the central role of consent in sexual relationships.”

Every citizen in Europe should be able to feel free and safe. Today, member states are sending a strong message: we no longer accept that women are more at risk than men.

Marie-Colline Leroy
Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality

The agreement is provisional and needs to be formally adopted by the two co-legislators, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, to become law.