Background
Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence reflects the EU's commitment to ensuring gender equality (the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025) and protecting human rights. The Directive supports the EU and Member States' international commitments to combat and prevent violence against women, such as the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and the International Labour Organization’s Convention concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work (C190)
Objectives
Directive 2024/1385/EU provides a comprehensive framework to effectively prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence throughout the Union by introducing measures on prevention, protection, criminal offences and penalties. It aims to create safer environments for women both at home and at work.
Contents
The Directive provides the following definitions: violence against women, domestic violence, victim, hosting service provider, intermediary service provider, child, dependant, competent authority.
The Directive is made up of seven chapters. After establishing the scope and defining key terms (Chapter 1) it covers criminalisation of certain offences (Chapter 2), protection of victims of any form of violence against women and domestic violence and access to justice (Chapter 3), victim support (Chapter 4), prevention (Chapter 5); cooperation and coordination (Chapter 6) and final provisions, including reporting obligations (Chapter 7).
With regard to sexual harassment at work, the Directive states that ‘in cases of sexual harassment at work that constitute a criminal offence under national law, Member States shall ensure that counseling services are available for victims and employers. Those services shall include information on ways to adequately address such cases of sexual harassment, including on available remedies to remove the offender from the workplace’ (art. 28). Furthermore, persons with supervisory functions in the workplace, should receive training on how to recognise, prevent and address sexual harassment at work (art. 36/6.)
Transposition
Member States shall take the necessary measures to comply with this Directive by 14 June 2027
Read the full text of Directive 2024/1385/EU
Further information
EU Commission Gender-based violence