European Union introduce Law to Penalise Crimes against Women

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 8 May 2024

The European Union (EU) has enforced its first-ever law devoted to managing violence against women, which is a huge step in women's security. The significant laws are intended to safeguard women from different types of gender-based violence in all 27 EU member states. The law focuses on acts of violence against women, including female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and cyber violence such as misuse of personal images. Domestic abuse victims report crimes, with perpetrators facing up to five-year jail sentences. In contrast, those committing crimes against children, spouses, ex-spouses, politicians, journalists, and human rights activists face even more severe punishments.

The European Parliament approved new rules in April, with member states adopting them recently, giving EU countries three years to transpose them into national laws. Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgium's Justice Minister states, "This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need." However, delegates have shared unanimous agreement on the law's impact, and negotiations over an EU-wide definition of rape contention occurred with Italy and Greece advocating for it. At the same time, France and Germany opposed it, arguing for EU competence.

Ana Redondo, Spain's Equality Minister stated, she would prefer more ambitious rules but praised the law as a good starting point ahead of a meeting in Brussels.