On Wednesday, 12 July, the European Parliament formally approved their position on the proposed EU Directive on combating violence against women.
The report prepared by the European Parliament’s Committee for Women’s Rights & Gender Equality and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs was adopted last week with 71 votes in favour, 5 against, and 7 absentees. Parliament’s plenary approved the report without a vote. The text has garnered resounding support from its members, solidifying its readiness for negotiations with the Council of the EU. The forthcoming trilogues, set to commence on Thursday, 13 July, mark the next step in the process.
This proposed Directive aims to improve the EU’s approach to combatting violence against women and to ensure better protection of victims. It criminalises rape based on lack of consent, female genital mutilation and cyber violence, which includes: non-consensual sharing of intimate images; cyber stalking; cyber harassment; and cyber incitement to violence or hatred. It also strengthens access to justice, including for victims with disabilities.
What does the position adopted today add for women with disabilities?
The adoption of the Directive by the European Parliament supports a stride towards a more ambitious position. It aligns with the demands of the European Disability Forum when it comes to women and girls with disabilities, by:
- Banning forced sterilisation, with no exception based on the legal capacity or disability of the woman or girl: the text criminalises the act of performing, coercing or procuring sterilisation without direct free and informed consent.
- Requiring inclusive and accessible actions to prevent violence against women, for example by ensuring that information on preventive measures, the rights of victims, access to justice and to a lawyer, and the available protection and support measures is available in format accessible and understandable for persons with disabilities.
- Requiring training for professionals on the rights of victims with disabilities and on the necessity to deliver disability-sensitive support to victims.
- Requiring accessibility of shelters and other interim measures, as well as reasonable accommodations, for victims with disabilities
- Requiring the collection of data on violence against women, disaggregated by disability.
What is next?
- The text will be negotiated further with the Council of the EU – representing Member States – and the European Commission. The trialogues’ first meeting will take place this Thursday 13 July.
EDF will continue to advocate for a strong text, including the criminalisation of rape and forced sterilisation, accessibility of services for victims with disabilities, training for professional on the rights and needs of women with disabilities, and collection of data disaggregated by disability.
We would like thank the co-rapporteurs and all the MEPs who supported the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the text.
More information
- To know more about our campaign on #EndForcedSterilisation consult our campaign page.
- Read the European Parliament’s press release
- Press conference by Frances FITZGERALD and Evin INCIR, co-rapporteurs on combating violence against women and domestic violence
Contact
Marine Uldry, Human Rights Policy Coordinator
Email: marine.uldry@edf-feph.org