Across the EU, one in three women suffer some form of gender-based violence in her lifetime. In our Union, at least two women are killed every day by an intimate partner or family member. Women in all member states deserve strong legislation to combat violence against women, justice ministers from the Party of European Socialists (PES) said this morning.
Meeting ahead of the EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council today, the progressive ministers discussed the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Meeting Chair, Dominika Švarc Pipan said:
“Last weekend, on 25 November, we marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. We should use the momentum to push for the finalisation of the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
“The finalisation of this directive cannot come soon enough. It is high time to take this discussion to Ministerial level in the Council. The European elections are only six months away, and a resurgent far-right poses a real threat to this directive and, by extension, women’s rights.
“We must remain firm in our position; only yes means yes. Sex without consent is rape. Laws govern behavior, and that is why non-consensual sex acts must be included in the definition of rape, and therefore represent a crime to be punished under EU law.”
The meeting further discussed items on the JHA agenda. Ministers repeated their call for Russia to be held accountable for its crimes against Ukraine. They backed further actions to close legal loopholes and implement sanctions – harmonised at the EU level – so that EU measures put in place against Russia have a real impact.
The PES political family is leading the fight for stronger rights for women, with European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli proposing the directive. And co-rapporteur Evin Incir MEP from the S&D Group pushing for the legislation in the European Parliament.
Ministers further supported EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), an essential move to create a legal space and coherent framework of human rights protection in the EU. The meeting also discussed judicial cooperation, victims’ rights, and the work of the EPPO.
The meeting was attended by:
- Dominika Švarc Pipan, Minister for Justice, Slovenia
- Catarina Sarmento e Castro, Minister for Justice, Portugal
- Evin Incir, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group
