EU Passes First-Ever Legislation to Combat Violence Against Women
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Legislation Passed | EU's first-ever law to combat violence against women |
| Key Provisions | - Criminalizes female genital mutilation, forced marriage, online harassment |
| - Facilitates reporting of domestic abuse, introduces stricter penalties (up to 5 years jail) | |
| - Harsher penalties for crimes against children, spouses, ex-spouses, politicians, journalists, activists | |
| Disagreements | No common EU definition of rape included in the final text |
| European Leaders' Views | - Paul Van Tigchelt (Belgian Deputy PM): Stressed need for strong sanctions and victim support |
| - Marie-Colline Leroy (Belgian Secretary of State): Called it a groundbreaking moment for women's rights | |
| Challenges | - Some member states opposed a common EU definition of rape |
| Overall Impact | Significant step forward in protecting women's rights across the EU |