Gender equality: The European Parliament calls for a consensus-based definition of rape and greater protections for women's rights.

Brussels, 12 November 2025 – With 310 votes in favour, 222 against and 68 abstentions, the European Parliament approved one non-binding resolution which calls on the Union to take a historic step in the protection of women's rights: to include a consensus-based definition of rape in Community legislation and recognize the gender violence as a serious crime at European level.

The resolution, approved during the plenary session, is part of the request by MEPs to adopt a new European Strategy for Gender Equality 2026–2030, which includes concrete measures, both legislative and non-legislative, to combat inequalities and violence against women and LGBTIQ+ people.

Towards consensus-based European legislation

One of the central points of the text approved by Parliament is the proposal to define the crime of rape on the basis of explicit consent.
Today, in fact, the definition of sexual violence varies significantly among member states: in some states, such as Spain and Sweden, consent is already the core of the crime; in others, however, coercion or physical violence must be demonstrated to secure a conviction.

Parliament therefore calls on the European Commission to propose a rule that harmonizes the definition of rape at community level, recognizing that “without consent it's rape”.
The aim is to create a uniform legal framework that guarantees effective protection for all women in the Union, regardless of the country they live in.

Gender violence as a European crime

The Members also request that the gender violence be recognized as a serious crime with a cross-border dimension, like other crimes such as human trafficking or terrorism.
A measure that would allow the EU to intervene more effectively in the prevention, protection of victims and judicial cooperation between Member States.

The resolution also calls for the adoption of Guidelines for the implementation of the European Directive on violence against women and domestic violence, and invites all countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Istanbul Convention, the first legally binding international treaty to prevent and combat gender-based violence.

Right to health and safe abortion

Another fundamental chapter of the document concerns the sexual and reproductive health.
Parliament calls for include the right to safe and legal abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, guaranteeing a universal and equal access to health services sensitive to gender differences.

MEPs stress the need to bridge the gap health gap between men and women, improving prevention and attention to pathologies that disproportionately affect the female gender.
The resolution also calls for a binding plan to ensure mental health services that take into account gender specificities and situations of vulnerability.

Work, equal pay and representation

In the economic and employment field, the European Parliament is pushing for reduce pay, employment and pension gaps between men and women, asking for a full implementation of the directives on minimum wages, wage transparency, gender balance on boards of directors and work-life balance.

MEPs urge Commission to promote women's entry and permanence in the labor market, strengthening family policies, parental leave and care services.

LGBTIQ+ Rights and Democracy

Parliament does not limit itself to gender equality. In the same resolution, it asks the Commission to strengthen the protection of LGBTIQ+ people and counteract authoritarian tendencies and limitations on civil rights in some member countries.
Furthermore, the deputies ask to include the agenda “Women, Peace and Security” in the middle of the common foreign and security policy, highlighting the crucial role of women in international peace and mediation processes.

“Enough hiding behind national competences”

After the vote, the rapporteur of the resolution, Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Croatia), said:

With the adoption of this report, the European Parliament stands firmly with all women and girls in Europe and sends a clear message to the Commission: the new gender equality strategy must be based on concrete legislative measures. We must stop hiding behind the argument of national competences. It is time to act to ensure equality, security, and freedom for all in the EU.

His words sum up the political and civil spirit of a resolution which, although not binding, marks a cultural and regulatory change of pace in the European battle for women's rights.

A decisive step towards a Europe of rights

The resolution of the European Parliament does not have immediate legislative effect, but represents strong political pressure on the Commission and national governments.
If the proposals are accepted, the European Union could equip itself for the first time with a common definition of rape based on consent, of a European criminal law against gender-based violence and formal recognition of abortion as a fundamental right.

A decisive step towards a Europe that not only proclaims equality, but translates into concrete rules and rights.