Commission proposes EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence
On 8 March 2022, the European Commission released its proposal on EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The proposed Directive, once adopted, will criminalise rape based on lack of consent, female genital mutilation and cyber violence, which includes: non-consensual sharing of intimate images; cyber stalking; cyber harassment; and cyber incitement to violence or hatred.
The new rules will also 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 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.
Contributing to the EU Strategy on Children’s rights, this proposal notably aims at providing for specific safeguards for children victims of violence against women or of domestic violence. They will guarantee, for example, that children can easily report offences and are provided with safe places for with parent offenders, who have rights of access.
