Violence against women

15.11.2013

Question for written answer E-013044-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Cristiana Muscardini (ECR) , Anna Rosbach (ECR) , Niccolò Rinaldi (ALDE) , Patrizia Toia (S&D)

Violence against women is still one of the most serious human rights violations worldwide and this phenomenon involves victims and aggressors of every age, level of education, income and social standing; it is both a consequence and cause of gender inequality.

This kind of violence takes various forms, i.e. physical, sexual and psychological violence, as well as various forms of structural violence against women, such as limiting their freedom of choice, their rights to their own body and its integrity, their right to education, their right to self-determination and denial of their full civic and political rights.

A society which does not guarantee equal rights between women and men only perpetuates a structural form of violence against women and girls.

1. Has the Commission already received and does it intend to make public the project drafted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights concerning violence against women in the various Member States?

2. Can it provide information about the implementation of the directive on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters, which stipulates that female victims of violence have the right to the same protection they enjoy in their own country in every other EU Member State?

3. Does it intend to look into the possibility of also involving, through the drafting of legislation, third countries, our economic and political partners, bound to the European Union through association, free trade or partnership agreements, in accordance with European provisions concerning physical violence against women?

OJ C 231, 17/07/2014