Violence against women: strong punishment for attackers

“One in three women in the world has been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. These frightening figures also affect the EU, where 22% of women have experienced such violence by a partner. The situation is critical and requires collective awareness,” declared Constance Le Grip MEP, EPP Group Spokeswoman in the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee of the European Parliament, speaking on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Every day, whether at home or in public spaces, women and girls are victims of violence and discrimination of all kinds.

The EPP Group calls for a renewed commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls: “We urge all Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention and to implement the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive, the Directive against child sexual abuse and the European Protection Order. We also need to join forces to combat the culture of impunity and address stereotypes against women and girls,” said Anna Maria Corraza Bildt, EPP Group co-Rapporteur with Teresa Jiménez-Becerril, on an Oral Question on the elimination of violence against women in the EU, debated today in plenary.

“The European institutions must also lead by example by being at the forefront of this fight. Unfortunately, little progress has been made so far. We expressly call on the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vĕra Jourová, to ensure that the European Commission releases its new strategy for equality between women and men as soon as possible, with concrete and bold proposals to put an end to the scourge of gender violence and its new forms such as violence and harassment online,” explained Teresa Jiménez-Becerril.

“As women, as politicians, Members of the EPP Group, it is our responsibility not to abandon the victims of indiscriminate violence. The attackers do not care about promises and expressions of goodwill, we need strong and fast action, starting with the tightening of national laws that punish violence against women!” concluded Constance le Grip, Anna Maria Corraza Bildt and Teresa Jiménez-Becerril.