A year after the European Union (EU) passed its first Directive on combating violence against women, the WAVE Network has signaled that persistent gaps remain. Key concerns include the lack of real inclusion of women-led organizations and Women’s Specialist Services, and limited support for migrant and refugee women. To strengthen the Directive’s commitment to the Istanbul Convention, they must discuss the inclusion of consent-based definitions of rape in legislation, along with the dissemination of primary prevention measures, such as mandatory comprehensive sexuality education.
Compiled from: “One Year Since the Adoption of the EU Directive on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence: A Call for Inclusive, Ambitious Implementation,” WAVE Network, May 14, 2025.