EU justice and equality ministers have agreed a new law requiring member states to specify particular crimes against women in national law, including genital mutilation, forced marriage and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The new law is unusual because the EU rarely legislates on criminal matters, which are typically left to the member states. The new rules could result in tougher penalties for such crimes, depending on what sentences are already provided for by national law.
For example, the law requires each country to ensure that the maximum sentence for female genital mutilation is at least five years in prison.
Member states would be allowed to set the maximum sentence higher than provided for in the new EU law, but not lower.
Publishing sexually explicit images of anyone without their consent and "where such conduct is likely to cause serious harm to that person" would be punishable by up to a year in prison, at least.
The law also requires member states to criminalize the creation of fake sexually explicit images of real people without their consent, again where such behaviour "is likely to cause serious harm."
Also to be outlawed is cyberstalking and cyberharassment, as well as cyberincitement to violence or hatred on the basis of gender.
Though agreed, the law still has to be formally written into EU law. Member states will have three years to transpose its provisions into their national laws.