On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating violence against women and domestic violence
EMPL-PA-737239
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Rosa Estaràs Ferragut
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This is the draft opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the proposed directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. It proposes 25 amendments to the Commission proposal, focusing on the workplace and on victims with disabilities.¶¶ The amendments ask member states to ratify International Labour Organization conventions on violence and harassment at work, to combat cyber violence and online hate speech against women at work, and to protect workers from third-party violence regardless of its cause.¶¶¶ They require member states to fund specialist counselling for victims and employers, to provide shelters and support services accessible to victims with disabilities, and to train professionals, employers and workers on violence, harassment and cyber violence.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the committees responsible to take into account 25 amendments to the proposed directive, focusing on the labour market and on victims with disabilities.¶
Key points
- Member states should ratify the International Labour Organization Convention No 190 and Recommendation No 206 of 21 June 2019 and adopt laws to prohibit, prevent and tackle violence and harassment in the labour market.¶
- Member states should contribute to combating cyber violence and online hate speech against women at the workplace.¶
- The directive should support the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Istanbul Convention and the International Labour Organization convention signed on 21 June 2019 in Geneva.¶
- Cyber violence targets women politicians, journalists and human rights defenders, and affects women and girls in schools and universities, harming their education, career and mental health.¶
- Minimum rules on cyber stalking should cover continuous surveillance without consent through information and communication technologies, including identity theft, stalkerware and Internet of Things devices.¶
- External specialised counselling services should advise victims and employers on addressing harassment at work, on legal remedies to remove the offender and on early conciliation if the victim wishes.¶¶
- Shelters should support victims' health, financial and employment situation and their children's well-being, and be equipped for children and victims with disabilities.¶¶
- Member states should ensure women and girls with disabilities benefit fully from the directive's rights, addressing inaccessible reporting, negative attitudes, physical barriers and scarce information.¶
- Professionals likely to meet victims should receive training on preventing stigmatisation, intimidation, repeat and secondary victimisation, on sexual harassment of marginalised groups, and on third-party violence such as nurses harassed by patients.¶
- Preventive and protective measures against violence, discrimination and harassment in the labour market, including third-party violence by customers, clients, visitors and patients, should apply regardless of the reason and involve the social partners.¶
- Member states shall allocate human and financial resources to competent authorities, legal aid, healthcare, social protection and recognised women's organisations, and shall provide specialist support services, including for victims with disabilities.¶¶
- Member states shall make information accessible to persons with disabilities, encourage employers to set up confidential complaint procedures with labour inspectors and psychologists, and train employers, workers and labour inspectorates on violence and harassment at work.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Member states, which must ratify the International Labour Organization conventions and fund support services.¶¶
- Employers and workers, who should receive training and confidential complaint procedures.¶¶¶
- Victims of violence and harassment, including women and girls with disabilities, who gain accessible support and information.¶¶¶
- Professionals such as law enforcement, judges, lawyers, healthcare and social services staff, who must receive training.¶¶