EU reaches first ever agreement to eliminate violence against women

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:08:52 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://web.archive.org/web/20240210070438/https://www.nadja.co/2024/02/09/eu-reaches-first-ever-agreement-to-eliminate-violence-against-women/>

"The EU has reached a historic agreement to protect women from different forms
of violence. The new law addresses gender-based violence, female genital
mutilation, forced marriages and online harassment across all member states.

Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and common human
rights violations globally. According to the European Council, one in three
women in Europe has experienced physical or sexual violence and 600,000 have
undergone female genital mutilation.

“For the first time, the European Union sends a clear message that we take
violence against women seriously as an existential threat to our security, said
EU lawmaker Frances Fitzgerald. “Today, we take the first step towards making
Europe the first continent in the world to eradicate violence against women,”
she added.

The new legislation will include improved access to justice as well as
protection and prevention services across the European Union. Member states
will have to establish helplines and rape crisis centres to support victims,
and ensure an easier reporting of crimes of violence against women and domestic
violence –  including an option to report online.

The law will also criminalise online violence, such as cyberstalking, cyber
harassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence. Once adopted, the new
law will set common rules on the definition of these offences and related
penalties.

The legislation, however, does not include a definition of rape, as EU member
countries and lawmakers remain divided over what legally constitutes rape. 
However, countries will aim to raise awareness that non-consensual sex is
considered a criminal offence, said the EU Parliament."

Via Future Crunch:
<https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-tolerance-poland-sanitation-indonesia-restoration-dominican-republic/>

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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