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EU to Strengthen Protections Against Gender-Based Violence
Irish Commissioner-designate pledges to strengthen EU protection of women from gender-based violence, pushing for further legislation.
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United States
European UnionGender IssuesCrimeLegislationWomen's RightsGender ViolenceEu Law
European Union (Eu)European ParliamentEuropean Conservatives And Reformists (Ecr)Council Of The European Union
Michael McgrathAssita KankoEvin Incir
- Why was rape not included as a Euro-crime in the recent EU directive?
- The EU recently passed a directive to combat violence against women, but it excluded rape as a Euro-crime due to a lack of consensus among member states. McGrath plans to encourage member states to adopt consent-based definitions of rape.
- What is the estimated societal cost of gender-based violence in the EU?
- Gender-based violence in the EU is a significant issue, with two in ten women experiencing physical and/or sexual violence from a partner or friend. The estimated annual societal cost of this violence is €290 million.
- What is Michael McGrath's commitment regarding gender-based violence in the EU?
- Michael McGrath, the Irish Justice Commissioner-designate, aims to strengthen the EU's protection of women and girls from gender-based violence. He supports further legislation to criminalize such violence, ensuring uniformity across member states.
- What other measures are included in the new EU directive on violence against women?
- The new EU directive includes penalties for crimes against public figures and new rules prohibiting forced marriage and female genital mutilation. It also mandates a five-year review of the directive's effectiveness.
- What were the disagreements between the European Parliament and the Council regarding the directive?
- While the European Parliament sought to include the criminalization of non-consensual sex in the directive, the Council raised concerns about legal competence, leading to a compromise that excluded rape as a Euro-crime for now.