The EU demands the swift transposition of the new Directive on violence against women, against the backdrop of increasing online abuse.
Brussels, November 24, 2025 - Executive Vice-President Rovana Mănzatu and Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib, on behalf of the European Commission, as well as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, issued a joint statement calling for intensified efforts to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence. They warn that one in three women in the European Union is a victim of such abuse and urge member states to implement without delay the European Directive adopted in 2024, the first comprehensive legislative framework against violence against women and domestic violence.
According to the statement, the legislation adopted in 2024 provides the most comprehensive European framework to date for preventing and sanctioning violence against women and domestic violence. The Directive explicitly criminalizes forms of online violence that increasingly affect women, such as the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, sexual deepfakes, cyberstalking, online harassment, or incitement to hatred based on gender.
Member states must transpose the Directive into national legislation by June 2027, but the Commission emphasizes the importance of accelerated implementation so that women and girls across the Union can be protected as quickly as possible, both offline and online.
The statement also highlights the severity of sexual abuse against children, especially girls, and the need to update EU legislation in this area. Through the European Strategy against Sexual Abuse of Children and the proposal to reform the Directive on Sexual Abuse, the EU aims to strengthen the rules on criminalization, prevention, investigations, and support for victims.
The EU supports that efforts are not limited to its borders. Programs such as the Spotlight Initiative and the ACT Programme continue to be implemented in collaboration with the UN, partner governments, and women's rights organizations. The Union also strengthens commitments under the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, an essential framework for preventing violence in conflict areas.
To mark the beginning of the global campaign "16 Days of Activism," the headquarters of the European Commission will be illuminated in orange on the evening of November 24, alongside the headquarters of the EEAS, as a sign of solidarity with victims of gender-based violence and as a strong political message of support for women's rights.
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