The Eurochamber approves a new directive
This Wednesday, the European Parliament gave the green light to a new directive to combat gender violence with a majority of 522 votes in favor, 27 against and 72 abstentions. These regulations, agreed with the Council of the EU in January, ban forced marriage and female genital mutilation, as well as including provisions on cybercrimes such as cyberflashing and cyberbullying.
Limitations and preventive measures
However, the directive does not consider rape based on consent to be a crime, as the Eurochamber had claimed, but instead focuses on the prevention of violations and raising awareness about consent. In addition, it seeks to prevent the unauthorized dissemination of intimate images on the Internet. The most controversial point, the prevention of this aggression, was resolved with the establishment of preventive measures, such as raising awareness about non-consensual sex.
Aggravating circumstances and protection
The new legislation also includes a more extensive list of aggravating circumstances for offenses, including crimes against public figures, journalists or human rights activists, as well as attempts to punish victims based on sexual orientation, gender, color skin, religion, origin or political beliefs.
