On Monday 7 October, the European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, reaffirmed before the plenary session of MEPs the Commission’s commitment to fighting against gender-based violence, a scourge that affects a third of women in the European Union.
In presenting the directive on domestic and gender-based violence, which came into force in June (see EUROPE 13431/33), Ms Dalli also spoke of the need to include consent as a basis in the European definition of rape, a concept that was absent from the final text despite pressure from MEPs.
Referring to the proposed reform of the directive on sexual abuse of children, which includes a definition of rape based solely on the absence of consent, Ms Dalli pointed out that if children are taught from an early age that only an explicit “yes” means “yes”, this can have a profound impact on future generations’ understanding of consent in sexual interactions.
The Commissioner reiterated that consent must be free and voluntary, and cannot be inferred from silence or lack of resistance.
Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greek) condemned the opposition, during the negotiations, of certain States, such as France, to this definition based on the absence of consent. She mentioned the Pélicot case, a case involving rapes under chemical submission, the trial of which is underway in France and illustrates the current legal loopholes.
The speeches by Mélissa Camara (Greens/EFA, French) and Manon Aubry (The Left, French) supported this observation. Ms Camara pointed out that violence against women is not limited to isolated cases, but is a product of patriarchy, which normalises and perpetuates the culture of rape. This violence is rooted in society and requires structural measures.
Manon Aubry deplored the downplaying of sexual violence in the courts, saying that a definition of rape strictly linked to consent will ensure that shame is placed where it belongs.
With alarming statistics – one in two women in two has been a victim of sexual harassment in the EU (https://aeur.eu/f/drx ) and, according to figures from the European Institute for Gender Equality, 35% of women who have suffered physical and/or sexual violence have done so in their own homes, it appears that gender-based violence is a systemic problem, as pointed out by Evin Incir (S&D, Swedish), who was rapporteur for the directive on gender-based violence.
Mathilde Androuët (PfE, French) also attempted to establish a link between sexual violence and immigration, stating that “migration is not an opportunity for anyone, especially not for women”.
Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew Europe, Swedish) denounced the growing influence of far-right parties, which she believes are holding back progress in the fight for women’s rights.
She warned against the largest parliamentary group becoming complacent about these positions and urged Parliament to move forward. “We have a responsibility in this Union to do better for all citizens”, she said, reminding that the protection of women’s rights must not be compromised by political interests. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)