European lawmakers call for new laws on violence against women

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Brussels (dpa) - European lawmakers on Thursday called for a zero-tolerance policy on all forms of violence against women throughout the European Union and said the bloc should give asylum to women fleeing genital mutilation.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said genital mutilation must be made illegal, "regardless of where or in which country this act occurs against EU citizens or residents."

Women running away from their countries because of fears of genital mutilation should be granted asylum on EU territory, EU lawmakers said.

EU member states must ensure that parents are held legally responsible for the practice, the MEPs said.

In a series of suggestions to improve the status of women, MEPs urged member states to toughen up national laws to combat violence against women and said marital sexual violence must be considered a crime.

Neither cultural traditions nor alcohol should be an excuse for domestic abuse of women, they underlined.

In addition, accomplices to so-called honour crimes should be prosecuted, lawmakers said, referring to the killing of women in some immigrant communities over their alleged moral misconduct.

The European Commission should declare a "European Year against men's violence against women" to assess and monitor member states' treatment of women in society, deputies said.

They also said countries seeking to join the EU must meet standards on the safety and treatment of women.

The MEPs called on governments and non-governmental bodies to harmonize their exchange of information on violence against women.

At least 35 per cent of women aged between 16 and 67 in Sweden, Germany and Finland have at one time in their life been the victim of physical or sexual violence, according to a report drawn up by Swedish Liberal MEP, Maria Carlshamre.