Today, EDF releases new guidance to support members and partners in the transposition of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The guidance aims to ensure that the rights of women and girls with disabilities are effectively included in the process of transposing the Directive into national laws and policies.
A groundbreaking step: The EU Directive
In May 2024, the European Union adopted a landmark law: the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. This is the first EU-level legislation specifically aimed at addressing gender-based violence.
The transposition process: Turning law into actions
To take effect, the Directive must be transposed into national laws in all 27 EU Member States by 14 June 2027. This process is essential to making the Directive’s rights and obligations e a reality across the EU.
Your advocacy is essential!
Women and girls with disabilities continue to face disproportionate levels of violence, often without adequate access to protection, support services or justice. For this reason, organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and their allies have a critical role in shaping how the Directive is implemented at national level.
By engaging in this process, OPDs can not only advocate for the full implementation of the Directive but also push beyond its scope, campaigning for critical reforms such as a ban on forced sterilisation and improved disability-disaggregated data collection.
What you will find in our new guidance
Our guidance provides information and practical tools to help OPDs and other civil society organisations to advocate for stronger protections of women and girls with disabilities against violence.
The guidance is divided into three parts:
- Understanding the Directive and its implementation:This section explains what the Directive includes and how the transposition process works. It highlights the key rights and obligations Member States must respect and implement.
- Advocay tips and guidance: You can find practical advice on how to engage with policymakers, raise awareness, and propose changes that strengthen protection against violence.
- Two annexes with further resources to support advocacy efforts.
Download our guidance below
EDF guidance on transposing the EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women (PDF document)