Reports of rape and sexual violence increase sharply in the EU as the bloc advocates for a consent-based definition of rape.

According to the most recent Eurostat data, law enforcement documented over 256,000 sexual violence crimes within the EU during 2024, with 38% classified as rape cases.

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Compared to 2023, sexual violence offences rose by 5%, while rape cases saw a 7% increase.

In 2024, France, Germany, and Sweden reported the largest numbers of sexual violence and rape crimes, whereas Cyprus, Malta, and Lithuania recorded the fewest.

However, a rise in police-registered sexual violence incidents may reflect increased awareness and enhanced efforts to address sexual abuse, potentially impacting reporting frequency.

These statistics were released shortly after the European Parliament supported a unified, consent-based definition of rape, termed «only yes means yes».

Members of the European Parliament emphasized that consent should be evaluated contextually, including scenarios involving violence, exploitation of authority, intimidation, or vulnerability.

Furthermore, they called for sufficient assistance and protection for victims and survivors across EU member states.

Earlier in 2024, the EU implemented minimum criteria to combat violence against women for the first time.

Nonetheless, a proposed clause establishing a shared legal definition of rape was removed following objections from several member countries.

«A unified European definition of rape has been advocated for years,» stated Evin Incir, a Swedish MEP affiliated with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, in an official European Parliament statement.

«An increasing number of governments acknowledge the necessity of this framework — since 2023, France, Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands have enacted consent-based legislation,» she added. «The momentum is on our side.»

Although the initiative for an EU-wide consent-based rape definition highlights the bloc’s commitment to combating this crime, data illustrates a rising pattern in both rape and sexual violence over the past ten years.

Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence incidents surged by 94%, while rape incidents escalated by 150%.

Throughout this decade, sexual violence offences grew steadily at an average annual rate near 10%, with rape offences increasing by about 7% each year.

Nevertheless, part of this rise may be due to improved reporting, supported by greater awareness and more effective complaint channels.

Latvia considers withdrawing from the anti-violence against women treaty

Despite sharing a similar framework under the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, European nations maintain distinct legal definitions and national legislation regarding rape.

This convention, signed by all EU members and other European countries such as the UK and Norway, aims to prevent and address violence against women and domestic abuse.

Last October, the Latvian parliament voted to withdraw from the treaty following criticisms from right-wing politicians who claimed it promotes «radical feminism rooted in gender ideology» and threatens traditional family values.

Nonetheless, President Edgars Rinkēvičs exercised his suspensive veto to return the decision to parliament for further consideration, arguing that such changes to international obligations require careful deliberation.

Latvia is set to revisit the matter in November, after the country’s parliamentary elections in the fall.

Despite potential withdrawal, Riga remains committed to safeguarding women and domestic violence victims, having passed a declaration urging the government to develop comprehensive national legislation to combat domestic violence, presented as an «alternative» to the convention.

As an EU member, Latvia must also comply with EU directives addressing violence against women, which incorporate many protections from the Istanbul Convention into EU law, effective by June 2027 regardless of its status with the Council of Europe treaty.

Meanwhile, France ratified an amendment in October 2025 to include consent within the legal definitions of sexual assault and rape, following the conclusion of the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial the previous year.

The case involved 51 men found guilty of sexually assaulting or raping Pelicot while she was unconscious, drugged by her husband Dominique over a decade-long period.

Previously, rape or sexual abuse was legally defined as «any form of sexual penetration committed using violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.»