The European Parliament adopted on Wednesday the first law issued by the European Union to combat violence against women.
European lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the text (522 votes in favor versus 27 votes against) during the final session of the European Parliament before the elections scheduled from the 6th to the 9th of June.
Frances Fitzgerald, from the European People’s Party, who participated in drafting the text, welcomed “a long-term legislative text that will make it possible to prevent violence against women, protect victims, and prosecute perpetrators, thus allowing for a global approach to combating these heinous crimes.”
Similarly, Evin Incir, from the Progressive Democrats, described the text as “a triumph for justice and equality for the entire European Union.”
This new law at the European level criminalizes stalking, forced marriage, sharing intimate images without consent, and even online harassment, paving the way for coordinated sanctions across the twenty-seven EU member states.
It also aims to provide victims with better opportunities for legal recourse and healthcare.
