Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Summary:

Directive (EU) 2024/1385 - adopted by the co-legislators on 14 May 2024 - setting out EU-wide rules aimed at tackling violence against women and domestic violence.

Further information:

Violence against women and domestic violence are pervasive throughout the European Union (EU) and are estimated to affect 1 in 3 women in the EU. One in two have experienced sexual harassment. One in 20 women report having been raped. Online violence is also on the rise, targeting in particular women in public life, such as journalists and politicians. 1 in 2 young women experienced gender-based cyber violence. Women also experience violence at work: about a third of women in the EU who have faced sexual harassment experienced it at work.

This Directive lays down rules to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. It establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and penalties in the areas of sexual exploitation of women and children and computer crimes, as well as the rights of victims of all forms of violence against women or domestic violence before, during and for an appropriate time after criminal proceedings. It also sets out rules relating to protection and support for victims, prevention and early intervention.

The need to prevent and combat violence against women, protect victims and punish offenders was first announced by the President of the European Commission in her Political Guidelines (2019) as a key priority, and it is also part of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025. A draft law was eventually adopted by the European Commission on 8 March 2022. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the text on 9 June 2023. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position on the proposal on 12 July. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 6 February 2024. This was formally endorsed by Parliament on 24 April and by the Council on 7 May. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 14 May 2024 and published in the Official Journal on 24 May 2024.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

UK in a Changing Europe: Commentary, 10/03/2022: Violence against women: new EU proposal likely to face challenges https://ukandeu.ac.uk/violence-against-women-eu-proposal/

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF): Media Center, 18/03/2022: IPPF EN welcomes the proposed EU law to combat violence against women and domestic violence https://europe.ippf.org/media-center/ippf-en-welcomes-proposed-eu-law-combat-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence

European Journal of International Law: Blog, 07/04/2022: A first insight into the EU proposal for a Directive on countering violence against women and domestic violence https://www.ejiltalk.org/a-first-insight-into-the-eu-proposal-for-a-directive-on-countering-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 02/06/2022: Combating violence against women and domestic violence - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)730332

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Studies, 17/06/2022: Violence against women and domestic violence: The new Commission proposal in light of European Parliament requests https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_STU(2022)730329

European Disability Forum (EDF-FEPH), 08/09/2022: Directive on Violence Against Women must protect women with disabilities https://www.edf-feph.org/the-directive-on-violence-against-women-must-prohibit-forced-sterilisation/

EU DisinfoLab: Publications, 11/10/2022: The Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence should address gender-based disinformation https://www.disinfo.eu/publications/the-directive-on-combating-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence-should-address-gender-based-disinformation/

Renew Europe EP Group: Events, 12/10/2022: The EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence: challenges and opportunities https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/events/2022-10-12/the-eu-directive-on-combating-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence-challenges-and-opportunities

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE): Advocacy Update: Proposal for EU Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence (23 November 2022) https://wave-network.org/advocacy-update-proposal-for-eu-directive-combating-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence/

The Conversation, 30/11/2022: Combating violence against women: why the EU’s new bill is a game-changer https://theconversation.com/combating-violence-against-women-why-the-eus-new-bill-is-a-game-changer-195322

European Digital Rights (EDRi): Resources, 23/01/2023: Only more rights will protect women on the internet https://edri.org/our-work/only-more-rights-will-protect-women-on-the-internet/

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC): Press Release, 12/06/2023: 'Ignore rape in violence against women directive', says Council https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/ignore-rape-violence-against-women-directive-says-council

Social Europe, 30/06/2023: EU needs to take violence against women seriously https://www.socialeurope.eu/eu-needs-to-take-violence-against-women-seriously

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC): Press Release, 12/07/2023: Rise in violence against women shows need for stronger directive https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/rise-violence-against-women-shows-need-stronger-directive

Greens/EFA EP Group: Opinion, 14/07/2023: Enough is enough! Paving the way for a European Union free from gender-based violence https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/enough-is-enough-a-law-against-gender-based-violence/

Amnesty International: News, 25/09/2023: Joint civil society position on the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence https://www.amnesty.eu/news/joint-civil-society-position-on-the-eu-directive-on-combating-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence/

European Women's Lobby, 09/10/2023: Open Letter on the Legal basis of the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence and the article on the offence of rape https://womenlobby.org/Open-Letter-on-the-Legal-basis-of-the-Directive-on-combating-violence-against

Verfassungsblog, 17/01/2024: Germany Blocks Europe-Wide Protection of Women Against Violence https://verfassungsblog.de/germany-blocks-europe-wide-protection-of-women-against-violence/

European Disability Forum (EDF-FEPH), 23/01/2024: Shame! EU Member States fail to criminalise forced sterilisation and rape https://www.edf-feph.org/shame-eu-member-states-fail-to-criminalise-forced-sterilisation-and-rape/

Amnesty International: News, 06/02/2024: EU: Historic opportunity to combat gender-based violence squandered  https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/eu-historic-opportunity-to-combat-gender-based-violence-squandered/

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), 07/02/2024: A Step Forward, Yet Many Missed Opportunities: WAVE’s Initial Response to the EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence https://wave-network.org/eud-statement-0702024/

Heinrich Böll Foundation: Commentary, 29/02/2024: A slap in the face for all women of Europe https://eu.boell.org/en/2024/02/29/slap-face-all-women-europe

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Commentary, 28/03/2024: Omitting rape from the EU’s Directive on combating violence against women is a huge mistake https://www.ceps.eu/omitting-rape-from-the-eus-directive-on-combating-violence-against-women-is-a-huge-mistake/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 16/04/2024: EU rules on combating violence against women https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2024)760440

Copuncil on Foreign Relations (CFR): Blog, 26/04/2024: Women This Week: European Parliament Combating Violence Against Women https://www.cfr.org/blog/women-week-european-parliament-combating-violence-against-women

Human Rights Watch (HRW): News, 07/05/2024: Civil Society Reaction to the Adoption of the EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/07/joint-statement-civil-society-reaction-adoption-eu-directive-combating-violence

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 30/05/2024: Combating violence against women and domestic violence https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)739392

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News

Reuters, 08/03/2022: EU Commission proposes EU-wide laws to combat violence against women https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-commission-proposes-eu-wide-laws-combat-violence-against-women-2022-03-08/

Euronews, 08/03/2022: EU plans to introduce same laws on violence against women across all member states https://www.euronews.com/2022/03/08/eu-plans-to-introduce-same-laws-on-violence-against-women-across-all-member-states

Politico, 08/03/2022: Commission wants EU governments to get tougher on violence against women https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-eu-governments-violence-against-women-iwd/

ERR News, 28/03/2022: EU anti-domestic violence directive sent to Estonian institutions for input https://news.err.ee/1608546766/eu-anti-domestic-violence-directive-sent-to-estonian-institutions-for-input

Euronews, 21/09/2022: An EU-wide approach to gender-based violence is taking shape but gaps remain https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/09/21/an-eu-wide-approach-to-gender-based-violence-is-taking-shape-but-gaps-remain

Euronews, 14/10/2022: 'We need to change the law', says victim of gender-based violence https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/14/we-need-to-change-the-law-says-victim-of-gender-based-violence

Politico, 09/06/2023: EU countries reject making non-consensual sex a criminal offense across the bloc https://www.politico.eu/article/rape-europe-criminal-offense-non-consensual-sex/

Notes from Poland, 09/06/2023: Poland vetoes EU LGBT statement and opposes domestic violence directive https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/06/09/poland-vetoes-eu-lgbt-statement-and-opposes-domestic-violence-directive/

EurActiv, 12/07/2023: Final negotiations to start on first EU-level tool to tackle violence against women https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/final-negotiations-to-start-on-first-eu-level-tool-to-tackle-violence-against-women/

Malta Today, 01/10/2023: MEPs tell governments to reverse omission of rape in violence against women Directive https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/ewropej/125189/meps_tell_governments_to_reverse_omission_of_rape_in_violence_against_women_directive

EurActiv, 10/10/2023: Commission urges EU countries to include rape in directive on violence against women https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/commission-urges-eu-countries-to-include-rape-in-directive-on-violence-against-women/

EurActiv, 26/10/2023: Violence against women: Compromise not in sight https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/violence-against-women-compromise-not-in-sight/

EurActiv, 13/11/2023: EU countries divided over the inclusion of rape to violence against women directive https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-countries-divided-over-the-inclusion-of-rape-in-violence-against-women-directive/

EUObserver, 30/11/2023: Paris and Berlin key to including rape in gender-violence directive https://euobserver.com/eu-political/ar1744a9a3

El País, 13/12/2023: The fight over how rape is defined threatens the first major European law on sexual violence https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-12-13/the-fight-over-how-rape-is-defined-threatens-the-first-major-european-law-on-sexual-violence.html

EurActiv, 14/12/2023: Paris under fire after latest refusal to adopt EU-wide rape definition https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/paris-under-fire-after-latest-refusal-to-adopt-eu-wide-rape-definition/

EurActiv, 16/01/2024: France, Germany, Netherlands side with conservative EU countries in split over rape definition https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/france-germany-netherlands-side-with-conservative-eu-countries-in-split-over-rape-definition/

The Irish Times, 18/01/2024: EU directive on violence against women will not include rape after legal definition roadblock https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2024/01/18/eu-directive-on-violence-against-women-will-not-include-rape-after-legal-definition-roadblock/

RTÉ News, 18/01/2024: Rape omitted from EU directive on violence against women https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0118/1427172-domestic-violence-directive/

France24, 06/02/2024: EU agrees first law combatting violence against women https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240206-eu-agrees-first-law-combatting-violence-against-women

Euronews, 07/02/2024: EU agrees first-ever law on violence against women. But rape is not included https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/02/07/eu-agrees-first-ever-law-on-violence-against-women-but-rape-is-not-included

RFI News, 08/02/2024: EU agrees first law on violence against women, fails to find consensus on rape https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20240208-eu-agrees-new-legislation-on-violence-against-women-fails-to-find-consensus-on-rape

EurActiv, 09/02/2024: No protections for undocumented women in EU directive on gender violence https://www.euractiv.com/section/migration/news/no-protections-for-undocumented-women-in-eu-directive-on-gender-violence/

EurActiv, 24/04/2024: EU adopts first directive combatting violence against women https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-adopts-first-directive-combatting-violence-against-women/

Reuters, 24/04/2024: EU Parliament adopts first EU-wide rules to combat domestic abuse https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-parliament-adopts-first-eu-wide-rules-combat-domestic-abuse-2024-04-24/

Deutsche Welle, 07/05/2024: EU adopts first law tackling violence against women https://p.dw.com/p/4fanw

The Sofia Globe, 07/05/2024: Council of the EU approves first-ever EU law combating violence against women https://sofiaglobe.com/2024/05/07/council-of-the-eu-approves-first-ever-eu-law-combating-violence-against-women/https://sofiaglobe.com/2024/05/07/council-of-the-eu-approves-first-ever-eu-law-combating-violence-against-women/

Le Monde, 07/05/2024: EU adopts its first law tackling violence against women https://www.lemonde.fr/en/europe/article/2024/05/07/eu-adopts-its-first-law-tackling-violence-against-women_6670698_143.html

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)105: Proposal for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:105:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)60: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Subsidiarity Grid https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:60:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)61: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Follow-up to the second opinion of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board and additional information https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:61:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)62: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:62:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)63: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:63:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Combating violence against women and domestic violence (2022/0066(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0066(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Legislative proposal on combating violence against women and domestic violence https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-new-push-for-european-democracy/file-legislative-proposal-on-gender-based-violence

Publications Office of the EU: EU Law Tracker: Proposal for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence https://law-tracker.europa.eu/procedure/2022_66?lang=en

General Secretariat of the Council (EU): Policies: EU measures to end violence against women https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-measures-end-violence-against-women/

European Commission: Press Release, 08/03/2022: International Women's Day 2022: Commission proposes EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1533

European Commission: Questions and answers: the Commission's proposal for new EU-wide rules to stop violence against women and domestic violence (8 March 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_1534

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 08/03/2022: No more impunity for perpetrators of violence against women https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/no-more-impunity-for-perpetrators-of-violence-against-women

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 08/03/2022: Stop violence against women and domestic violence! https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/stop-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 08/03/2022: EU wide laws offer chance to break the "vicious circle of growing gender-based violence" https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2022-03-08/eu-wide-laws-offer-chance-to-break-the-vicious-circle-of-growing-gender-based-violence

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/06/2023: Violence against women and domestic violence: Council agrees position on draft EU law https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/09/violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence-council-agrees-position-on-draft-eu-law/

European Parliament: Press Release, 28/06/2023: Violence against women: sex without consent is rape, say MEPs https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230626IPR00838/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 28/06/2023: Excluding rape from gender-based violence directive “unforgivable” say S&Ds https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/excluding-rape-gender-based-violence-directive-unforgivable-say-sds

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 28/06/2023: Liberal victories in landmark report on first-ever EU-wide legislation against gender-based violence https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-06-28/liberal-victories-in-landmark-report-on-first-ever-eu-wide-legislation-against-gender-based-violence

GUE/NGL EP Group: News, 28/06/2023: Parliament votes to combat violence against women and domestic violence https://left.eu/parliament-votes-to-combat-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence/

Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 28/06/2023: FEMM and LIBE committees approves first EU legal document addressing gender-based violence https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/femm-and-libe-committees-approves-first-eu-legal-document-addressing-gender-based-violence

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 28/06/2023: Non-consensual sex must become a crime across the EU https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/non-consensual-sex-must-become-a-crime-across-the-eu

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/07/2023: Combating violence against women: MEPs ready to negotiate on draft EU directive https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230707IPR02435/

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 18/12/2023: Macron and Scholz, defenders of women's rights, really? https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/macron-and-scholz-defenders-of-women-s-rights-really

Amnesty International: News, 24/01/2024: EU Directive on violence against women and domestic violence: Negotiators must act now to urgently adopt a robust text https://www.amnesty.eu/news/eu-directive-on-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence-negotiators-must-act-now-to-urgently-adopt-a-robust-text/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 06/02/2024: Violence against women: Council and European Parliament reach deal on EU law https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/06/violence-against-women-council-and-european-parliament-reach-deal-on-eu-law/

European Parliament: Press Release, 06/02/2024: First ever EU rules on combating violence against women: deal reached https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240205IPR17412/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 06/02/2024: Deal on the EU directive to fight violence against women: just a first step for the S&Ds! https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/deal-eu-directive-fight-violence-against-women-just-first-step-sds

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 15/02/2024: Europe puts a stop to violence against women https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/europe-puts-a-stop-to-violence-against-women

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 23/04/2024: EU to finally have its own tool to combat violence against women, including cyber violence https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/eu-finally-have-its-own-tool-combat-violence-against-women-including-cyber-violence

European Parliament: Press Release, 24/04/2024: Parliament approves first ever EU rules on combating violence against women https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20588/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 24/04/2024: Violence against women: historical deal on first-ever EU-wide Directive https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2024-04-24/deal-on-violence-against-women-directive

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/05/2024: Council adopts first-ever EU law combating violence against women https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/05/07/council-adopts-first-ever-eu-law-combating-violence-against-women/

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