It's vital that EU member states agree on a joint definition of rape if the group's directive on combating violence against women is to be effective. The proposal aims to ensure a minimum level of protection across the EU against such violence and the right to claim compensation. Rape was excluded from the new directive on combating violence against women, after EU states failed to agree on a definition of the term.
Under the proposed text, rape is based on a person not giving consent. Rape Crisis Network Ireland has branded the decision as bad news for women. Speaking to Let's Talk, Local MEP Maria Walsh is arguing that EU Heads of State must agree on a clear definition of the crime:
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