Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence was published in the EU Official Journal

The Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which is the EU's first-ever standalone regulation aimed at combating violence against women and domestic violence, was published in the EU Official Journal on May 24, 2024.

The directive stipulates that acts such as forced marriages, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberstalking, cyber harassment, cyber  incitement to violence and hatred, and female genital mutilation be defined as crimes and be punishable by 1 to 5 years of imprisonment.

Additionally, committing these crimes against a child, a current or former spouse or partner, a public representative, journalist, or human rights defender is considered an aggravating circumstance.

Moreover, the directive also includes detailed rules on the assistance and protection measures that must be provided to victims.

Member States are given 3 years to transpose the directive into their national laws.

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