uA tough fight lies ahead in the upcoming discussions on a major European directive to defend women’s rights. Every year, more than 100,000 rapes are recorded in the European Union (EU), according to INSEE ; it is therefore more than urgent to protect all women victims and to punish the perpetrators.
In the European Union, one in twenty women has been a victim of rape, explains the European Commission. In France alone, at least ten women are victims of rape or attempted rape every hour, according to figures from the National Observatory of Violence Against Women. The adoption of a law at European level to combat violence against women, and in particular rape, was therefore not only necessary but also urgent.
The European Commission therefore proposed ambitious legislation on March 8, 2022, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. This text, amended by Parliament, aims to provide, throughout the European Union, a definition of certain serious forms of violence which mainly affect women. This is the case of rape, female genital mutilation, cyberharassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and even forced marriage, the inclusion of which in the text was supported by the European Parliament.
A form of impunity
In addition to a common definition, the legislation aims to harmonize sanctions at European level so that perpetrators of violence cannot benefit from a form of impunity depending on the State in which they are found.
Finally, this European directive establishes protection measures for women victims of violence by requiring member states to put in place comprehensive support provisions, ranging from shelter to legal support.
On June 9, the representatives of the Member States on the Council have, in turn, adopted their position on this directive. On this occasion, the French Ministry of Justice welcomed, the way of a press releaseto have managed to “an ambitious and balanced approach” allowing to “strengthen the legislation, particularly criminal, of the Member States”.
However, unlike Belgium, Italy, Greece and Luxembourg, France, like a majority of member states, wanted to exclude rape from this first European law to combat violence against women. Neither common definition, nor common sanction, nor common protection. Nothing.
About-face
You have 46.61% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.