Brussels, 06/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Rape and other forms of sexual violence against women should be recognised as crimes in all EU countries, leading to automatic prosecution, says a European Parliament (EP) resolution that calls for an EU directive to combat gender-based violence. In several member states, rape is not classed as a criminal offence. The resolution entitled “Priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women”, drafted by Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL, Sweden), was adopted in Strasbourg on Tuesday 5 April by show of hands.
Rape is a crime. The EP calls on member states to: - recognise rape and sexual violence against women, including within marriage and intimate informal relationships, as crimes; - ensure that such offences result in automatic prosecution; - reject any reference to cultural traditional or religious practices as a mitigating factor, including so-called “crimes of honour” and female genital mutilation.
EU directive. Parliament calls, too - for an EU directive against gender-based violence; - for stalking also to be considered as a form of violence against women and be dealt with by means of a standard legal framework in all member states.
Prevention. Parliament calls on the EU and its member states to: - establish laws guaranteeing immigrant women the right to hold their own passports and residence permits and consider anyone taking these documents away criminally responsible; - put in place minimum standards to ensure that victims have advice from a legal practitioner and access to legal aid enabling them to assert their rights throughout the Union. Member states should define minimum thresholds on the number of centres with specific expertise to help victims of gender-based violence per 10,000 inhabitants.
MEPs on the women's rights and equal opportunities committee, meeting in Brussels on 16 March, adopted the report by Eva-Britt Svensson on this issue (by 27 votes to none, with two abstentions), setting the scene and tenor for the debate (see EUROPE 10338). (G.B./transl.rt)