Criminalization of genital mutilation, forced marriages and online abuse: European Union adopts law to combat violence against women | World

The 27 nations of the European Union approved this Tuesday (7) the first law aimed at combating violence against women to be adopted in all Member States.

The legislation approved by the Equality Ministers of all the bloc’s countries aims to punish gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriages and acts of violence via the internetsuch as online harassment and non-consensual sharing of intimate content.

The law makes it easier for victims to report crimes, which can carry penalties of up to five years in prison, and punishments for crimes against children, wives, ex-wives, politicians, journalists and human rights activists can be even greater.

The sentences, however, will depend on the definition in force in each country. Despite this, the new rules, for example, require all Member States ensure a maximum sentence of five years in prison for genital mutilation.

The bloc’s countries will be able to determine maximum sentences higher than those imposed by the new European law, but, in no case, lower than those established by the new rules.

The dissemination of explicit sexual images of any person without consent and cases in which such conduct would “likely cause serious harm to that person” must be punished by at least one year in prison.

The approval of the new legislation is unusual in the European Union, as Brussels rarely legislates on criminal matters, which are normally the responsibility of each member state.

“This is a transformative moment in strengthening women’s rights,” said Belgian Minister for Gender Equality, Marie-Colline Leroy. “True equality can only occur when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step towards making that happen.”

“Violence against women and domestic violence are persistent crimes,” said Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Paul Van Tigchelt. “This law will ensure that criminals across the European Union are rigorously punished and that victims receive all the support they need.”

The new rules were approved in April by the European Parliament. The official adoption by Member States this Tuesday was the final step in turning the proposal into law. From now on, Member States will have three years to transform the new regulations into national laws.

But despite unanimity among countries regarding the need for the law, member states failed to come up with a common definition for rape, which led to disagreements between different countries during negotiations.

Nations such as Italy and Greece advocated the inclusion of a definition. Others, such as Germany and France, claimed that the European Union does not have competence on this issue.

Before the meeting of representatives of the 27 nations in Brussels, Spain’s Equality Minister, Ana Redondo, said she would have preferred the legislation to be “a little more ambitious”, but said it was a “good start”.