BrightAct advising the EU Parliament on a legislative proposal on combating violence against women and domestic violence

On 8 March 2022, the Commission published its proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, with the aim of closing gaps in protection and access to justice across the EU and to align EU law with international standards. Specifically, the proposed directive would:

• criminalise rape based on lack of consent (18 Member States currently require the use of force or threats for it to be punishable), female genital mutilation (FGM) and specific forms of cyber violence;

• tackle under-reporting of violence against women and domestic violence by introducing safer, more gender-sensitive procedures for reporting and individual risk assessments for victims;

• require Member States to provide dedicated services to address the specific needs of victims of sexual violence;

• improve coordination and cooperation between the Member States.