The European Commission proposes EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The Commission aims to enshrine minimum standards in EU Law to:
- Criminalise of rape as lack of consent, female genital mutilation, and cyber violence
- Improve safe reporting and risk assessment procedures
- Ensure respect for victims’ privacy in judicial proceedings and right to compensation
- Support victims through helplines and rape crisis centres
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash The Commission is also proposing to make EU-wide data collection an obligation, because of the limited availability of EU-wide data on the scale of the problem. It also foresees targeted support for groups with specific needs or at risk, including women fleeing armed conflict.
Sensoa and IPPF EN welcome the new proposal. Especially the recognition of the need to strengthen sexuality education, as an essential tool to prevent violence is a step forward. The Directive affirms the importance of educational programmes in schools and in early-childhood education and care, to combat harmful gender stereotypes, and to strengthen the socio-emotional skills that young people need to be able to develop healthy and respectful relationships.
The Directive currently fails however in granting sufficient importance to access to healthcare services for victims/survivors. Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, such as post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent hiv-infection or safe abortion care, is not mentioned as an essential type of healthcare that victims/survivors of sexual violence must have access to. The EU should also adopt an inclusive and intersectional approach to truly protect the safety of all Europeans, regardless of their sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions and sex characteristics.
The European Parliament and the Member States will start negotiations on the proposal to reach a final text. You can read to full reaction of IPPF EN here.
Sensoa and IPPF EN welcome the new proposal. Especially the recognition of the need to strengthen sexuality education, as an essential tool to prevent violence is a step forward. The Directive affirms the importance of educational programmes in schools and in early-childhood education and care, to combat harmful gender stereotypes, and to strengthen the socio-emotional skills that young people need to be able to develop healthy and respectful relationships.
The Directive currently fails however in granting sufficient importance to access to healthcare services for victims/survivors. Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, such as post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent hiv-infection or safe abortion care, is not mentioned as an essential type of healthcare that victims/survivors of sexual violence must have access to. The EU should also adopt an inclusive and intersectional approach to truly protect the safety of all Europeans, regardless of their sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions and sex characteristics.
The European Parliament and the Member States will start negotiations on the proposal to reach a final text. You can read to full reaction of IPPF EN here.
RSS Feed