![EU adopts first law to address violence against women 1 Women holding placards chant during a demonstration to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Toulouse, south-western France, on November 25, 2023.](https://img.lemde.fr/2024/03/05/0/0/4497/2998/664/0/75/0/f8b07ea_1709649813446-000-344w2u8.jpg)
European Union countries have backed the bloc’s first law focused on combating violence against women, with a key emphasis on protecting women from gender-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and online harassment.
The comprehensive law, approved by the European Parliament and EU countries, criminalizes cyberstalking, cyber harassment, and online incitement to hatred or violence. It mandates minimum sentences, aiming to provide support to victims and ensure strong sanctions for perpetrators.
Despite unanimous agreement on the law’s necessity, debates were sparked by the absence of a common definition of rape in the text. Countries like Italy and Greece pushed for a definition, while others like France and Germany opposed it, citing EU competency concerns.
While Spain’s equality minister viewed the law as a positive step, she expressed a desire for more ambition. The law now awaits transposition into national law within three years, with the hope to provide greater protection and support for women across the EU.