The European Parliament committee approved a report on Thursday calling for the establishment of a common European consent-based definition of rape.

The draft also sets common minimum criteria in key areas such as prevention, raising awareness, sex education, and access to justice for victims.

The report states that these measures represent a leap forward in protecting victims of gender-based violence and respond to growing social demand, evidenced by impactful cases such as La Manada or Gisèle Pelicot.

The document conveys a direct message to the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, urging them to act. In the past legislature, the European Directive on combating violence against women was passed without including a common definition of rape, since the Council blocked the proposal.

Now, with a super-majority in favour, the European Parliament once again demands for this definition to be incorporated into European legislation, and is also calling for gender-based violence to be included in the list of Eurocrimes, i.e. those particularly serious crimes that face harmonised prosecution throughout the European Union.

The promoters of the report have assured that they will continue to pressure the European institutions to advance in the war on this scourge and strengthen protections for victims throughout the territory of the Union.