EU equality ministers have attempted to agree on the definition of consent as part of negotiations on the future directive on violence against women.
The informal meeting in Pamplona was part of the final phase of negotiations on the wording of the European text which would establish that any penetration without consent is rape.
Ana Redondo is Spain’s Minister for Equal Opportunities: “Violence against women is one of the most serious and common human rights violations in our society. Sexual violence, trafficking women. Intimate partner violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, among others, are all manifestations of violence against women, simply because they are women.”
A message also brought to EU decision-makers by a demonstration against domestic violence which took place on Friday in Brussels. Similar rallies are planned around the world this Saturday.
