European Parliament calls for gender-based violence to become a crime across the EU

Today, Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of a report calling for gender-based violence to be added to the list of Eurocrimes and for the Commission to come out with a proposal for an EU-wide directive on gender-based violence. This report provides a clear legal basis for establishing minimum rules concerning the definition of the criminal offences and sanctions. 

Diana Riba i Giner MEP, Member of the Women’s rights and Gender equality committee and co-rapporteur, comments:
 
“This is a historic moment in the fight against gender-based violence in the EU. In adopting this report, the Parliament has taken the first step towards having the tools to ensure common legal definitions and standards to prevent and combat all forms of gender-based violence, including violence against LGBTIQ people.

“Gender-based violence is rooted in gender stereotypes, patriarchal structures and power asymmetries and represents one of the greatest violations of human rights in history. COVID19 has exacerbated the situation. Government agencies, women's rights groups and civil society partners across Europe have seen an increase in the number of reports of gender-based violence during the pandemic, together with an increased demand for emergency shelters.

“By adding gender based violence as a new EU crime in the Treaties, the Commission will have the capacity of proposing a holistic and ambitious directive on gender-based violence. The directive would not only act in the fields of prevention, support and training, in line with the spirit of the Istanbul Convention, but it would be much more comprehensive, addressing the criminal aspect of gender violence.”

Background:
1 in 3 women in the European Union has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, 1 in 2 sexual harassment, 1 in 20 has been raped, 1 in 5 has experienced stalking and 95% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are women.