On the occasion of the international Day to eliminate violence against women, our MEPs* published and op-ed in various European dailys, calling for an ambitious EU directive, and in particular for a consent-based rape legislation.
Only Yes means Yes Laws guide attitudes and behaviour in society, which is why it is essential to make it clear in EU law that sex without consent is rape.
Only 13 EU countries have laws defining rape as sex without consent. Others require victims to prove the use of force or threat for the act to qualify as rape. As Socialists and Democrats, we are pushing to classify all non-consensual sex as rape across the entire EU in the currently negotiated EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence.
As Socialists and Democrats, we are determined to take on the fight with the member states, with the objective of having a final agreement before the end of this legislature, and before the 2024 European elections. However, we need an ambitious directive. One that will guarantee that all EU countries put into law that sex without consent is rape, and that all European women are equally protected.
*Iratxe García is S&D’s leader; Evin Incir is an S&D MEP and the EP’s co-chief rapporteur on genderbased violence; Pina Picierno is an S&D MEP and shadow rapporteur on this file for the women’s rights and gender equality committee.
The full opinion piece is attached below
