00:00Sexual violence and rape offenses are rising in the EU.
00:07In 2024, police recorded more than 256,000 sexual violence offenses in the EU,
00:1438% of which were rape offenses.
00:17This is according to the latest Eurostat figures.
00:20Compared with 2023, sexual violence offenses increased by 5% and rape by 7%.
00:26The figures came out just after the European Parliament voted to back a common consent-based
00:32definition of rape known as Only Yes Means Yes.
00:35Prior to this, the EU adopted minimum standards to combat violence against women for the first
00:40time in 2024.
00:41However, a proposed article to create a common definition of rape was dropped after opposition
00:46from several member states.
00:48While the push for an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape shows that the bloc is
00:53serious about tackling the crime, data shows an upward trend in sexual violence and rape
00:59offenses over the past decade.
01:01Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence offenses jumped by 94% and rape offenses by 150%.
01:10During this period, sexual violence offenses increased continuously by nearly 10% annually
01:16on average and rape offenses by 7%.
01:18Nevertheless, an increase in the number of police-recorded sexual violence offenses can suggest greater
01:24awareness and better measures to combat sexual abuse impacting reporting rates.
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