In view of the recent European Commission proposal for a Directive on Combating violence against women and domestic violence establishing minimum rules of protection against offline and online violence EDF has sent a proposal for an amendment stressing 3 key points:
- The Directive must introduce a criminalisation of forced sterilisation in the European Union. Forced sterilisation is prohibited under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see General Comment No. 3), ratified by the EU and all its Member States, and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (‘Istanbul Convention’). Yet only 9 EU Member States specifically criminalise forced sterilisation as a distinct criminal offence, while at least 14 EU Member States still allows some forms of forced sterilisation in their legislation. EDF proposes the inclusion of a specific article prohibiting forced sterilisation.
- Accessibility, adequate support and training of professionals are key to ensure access to justice and to support services for women and girls victims of violence against women and domestic violence. The Directive must strengthen the existing framework established by the Victims’ Rights Directive and require accessibility of shelters and other interim accommodations, as well as require States to provide trainings related to disability related needs and rights to professionals.
- Data and research are needed to identify the root causes of violence and monitoring progress in preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. There is a lack of comparable data on violence against women and girls with disabilities in the EU. The Directive should require Member States to disaggregate data by disability to inform on the specific situation of marginalised groups, including women and girls with disabilities, in various settings such as in institutions, schools and workplace.
Download the complete document below
- EDF amendment proposed directive on combating violence against women (PDF document)
- EDF Amendment proposed directive on combating violence against women (Word document)
Updated: October 2022