End violence against women and girls

Adding violence against women to the list of EU crimes, an EU Directive to counter the growing phenomenon of violence against women, EU accession to the Istanbul Convention. The EPP Group in the European Parliament is urgently calling for these key interventions on the 30th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Women and girls must not wait another 30 years to be free from violence in their home, workplace and society.

“As we mark this day, the EPP Group in the European Parliament reiterates that violence against women and girls, in all its forms, is a crime for which we have zero tolerance. We are calling on the European Commission to use all available tools and policies to tackle this horrific crime. It is vital that the Commission brings forward its legislative proposal to prevent and combat violence against women in the near future. Violence against women is one of the least prosecuted and punished crimes in the world. This cannot continue. Member States need to step up to the plate, collecting data on the extent of such violence and sharing best practices, so that we can work together at EU level to have a Europe free from violence against women and girls”, said Frances Fitzgerald MEP and Arba Kokalari MEP.

Fitzgerald is the EPP Group’s Spokeswoman for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, while Kokalari is the European Parliament Rapporteur for the Istanbul Convention, the first legally-binding international treaty to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence.

“Strong action is needed to combat both offline and online violence against women and girls, including physical, psychological and sexual violence, as well as economic and coercive control. Violence against women must be legally defined and added to the list of EU crimes, and a European Directive is needed to counter the growing phenomenon of online violence against women. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, we have seen a 30% increase in instances of domestic violence, this is unacceptable and we cannot allow this to continue. We must educate our children from an early age that violence against women and girls is never justifiable - only then can we end this horrific crime”, said Fitzgerald.

“One out of three women in the EU suffer from violence during their lives. The EPP Group strongly urges all Member States and the European Union as a whole to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which is an important tool in the fight against violence. It’s time to stop talking and start acting, countries that stand up for women’s rights must show leadership in the European Council to make accession happen”, said Kokalari.

The EPP Group is proud to join with citizens and organisations across the globe to ‘Orange the World’ and work together to end violence against women and girls.