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Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence throughout the European Union
SUMMARY OF:
Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?
The aim of Directive (EU) 2024/1385 is to provide a European Union (EU)-wide legal basis for preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence.
KEY POINTS
- Violence against women and domestic violence have previously been addressed in a non-specific way in EU regulations and directives covering areas such as:
- judicial cooperation in criminal matters,
- equality between women and men,
- digital services, and
- asylum policy.
Scope
- The directive aims to ensure a minimum level of protection across the EU against such violence.
- The law criminalises the following offences across the EU:
- female genital mutilation,
- forced marriage,
- non-consensual sharing of intimate images,
- cyberstalking,
- cyberharassment, and
- cyber incitement to hatred or violence.
- It applies to all victims of violence against women and domestic violence, regardless of their gender.
Main features
The directive:
- sets minimum levels for maximum terms of imprisonment for the most serious forms of these offences;
- sets jurisdiction rules, including for offences committed using communication devices such as phones;
- helps to ensure the protection of victims and access to justice, including:
- requiring accessible and secure reporting channels, including online reporting and submission of evidence,
- allowing for emergency barring orders, restraining orders and protection orders,
- setting up rules to promptly remove or disable access to certain online material;
- provides better victim support, including:
- requiring specialist support services for victims, including information, counselling and referrals,
- specialised support for victims of sexual violence and female genital mutilation,
- ensuring support for child victims and those facing intersectional discrimination;
- promotes prevention and early intervention, including:
- requiring comprehensive preventative measures such as awareness raising and education,
- intervention programmes to prevent offending and reoffending,
- compulsory training for professionals likely to encounter victims;
- facilitates coordination and cooperation, including:
- requiring coordinated national policies and designated coordinating bodies,
- calling for national action plans and multi-agency coordination,
- setting data collection and research requirements.
FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?
The directive has to be transposed into national law by . The rules contained in the directive should apply from the same date.
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
- Ending gender-based violence (European Commission).
MAIN DOCUMENT
Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on combating violence against women and domestic violence (OJ L, 2024/1385, ).
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