All EU Member States will have to criminalise female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and cyber violence such as non-consensual sharing of intimate images as part of a "groundbreaking" EU directive adopted today.
It also criminalises cyber stalking, cyber harassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence.
The directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence was given the green light by the European Council on Tuesday, and Member States will have three years from its entry into force to transpose it into national law.
Penalties for offences included in the directive can range from one to five years in prison, and there is an extensive list of aggravating circumstances such as committing the offence against a child, a former or current spouse or partner or a public representative, a journalist or a human rights defender, which carry more severe penalties.
The new law also contains measures to prevent violence against women and domestic violence, and sets standards for the protection of victims of these crimes.
As a minimum, it should be possible to report cybercrimes online, and EU countries must also put measures in place to ensure that children are assisted by professionals. When children report a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, authorities will have to take measures to protect the safety of the child before informing the alleged perpetrator.
Member States will also have to ensure that evidence relating to a victim's past sexual conduct is only permitted in criminal proceedings when relevant and necessary.
Marie-Colline Leroy (Ecolo), Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality, said that the move is a "groundbreaking moment in boosting women's rights".
"Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen," she said.
An EU-wide survey found that one in three women in the EU has experienced physical or sexual violence (reflecting national figures for Belgium), mostly perpetrated by intimate partners, while half of all women have experienced sexual harassment.
Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea, added that violence against women and domestic violence "is a persisting crime".
"This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need," he said.
