We’re joining 63 other civil society organisations and the ‘It’s Not Over’ campaign to advocate for equal protection for women across the EU.
On October 1st 2023, the Istanbul Convention entered into force at the EU level. This is a human rights treaty, requiring parties to develop laws, policies and support services to end violence against women and domestic violence.
Although this is a step in the right direction to align with international standards, it’s missing a critical aspect: the exclusion of a consent-based definition of rape from EU law.
This omission represents a missed opportunity for aligning the legal protection of women across the EU, as gender-based violence knows no borders, and there should be a uniform definition of rape based on consent. Currently, this varies from country to country, and although some have adopted a consent-based definition of rape (“only yes means yes”), others still require evidence of violence or threats.
We’ve signed an open letter published by the ‘It’s Not Over’ campaign, calling on Members of the European Parliament to:
1) Reopen the debate on a consent-based definition of rape
2) Urge those EU countries that have yet to ratify the Istanbul Convention to do so as soon as possible.
You can read the full letter below.
