EWL Statement – MS Council of the EU-supporting EC proposal for a Directive on combating
violence against women and domestic violence

Statement to Ylva Johansson, Commissioner Internal Security

January 27th 2023

Dear Ms Johansson,

I am contacting you on behalf of the Soroptimist International Europe member of the European
Women’s Lobby, the largest umbrella organization of women’s associations in Europe.

We are pleased to send you a statement calling all the Member States in the Council of the
European Union to step up their efforts to work towards enhancing and swiftly adopting a Directive
on combating violence against women and domestic violence, including the provisions based on
the EU crime of sexual exploitation of women and children in Article 83(1) TFEU.

We listen bitterly and with great concern to voices removing rape, female genital mutilation and
other violations of women’s human rights as violence from the Directive on Violence Against
Women.

We count on you to send a strong political message and confirm the EU’s commitment to fight this
pervasive form of women’s rights violation and discrimination, including all aspects of sexual
exploitation, to prevent a backlash in women’s rights.

Please find attached the EWL statement. We thank you in advance for your attention and we
remain at your disposal for any further information you might need.

Kind regards,
Carolien Demey
SIE President 2021-2023