WOMEN WHO HAVE protection orders taken out against someone – for reasons such as domestic violence or stalking – will now be afforded protection throughout the EU.

The European Parliament voted in favour of an EU-wide protection order that aims to protect the victims who have been subject to domestic violence or stalking. Citizens, in most cases women, who have restraining orders against someone can now be assured that the order obtained in their home country will have the same standing wherever they are in the EU.

This week, MEPs in Strasbourg  voted in favour of the new civil law rules. Speaking to Karen Coleman of radioep.ie, Labour MEP Emer Costello said:

This is particularly important because while people might have a protection order in their own country, they can find it difficult to travel on holidays or to move abroad without either being stalked or harassed by the person that is the subject of the protection order. This will afford that protection no matter what country they travel in.

She explained that it was a very simple process. The person who intends to travel and who has a protection order out against someone simply has to fill out a multilingual form, submit it and they will be afforded the same protection abroad, as they would at home.

Emer Costello added:

This is primarily for women who have barring orders or protection orders. I would be aware of women who say they feel nervous about travelling or going on holidays as they don’t have the same protections in the countries abroad. Now if they travel to any European country they will have the full protection of the law of that country when they travel there.

Also you have incidences where people are being stalked, being watched or being observed – this directive ensures that anyone who is concerned about being stalked or being watched or is concerned about any threat to their dignity or integrity and their sexual dignity as well, they can ensure they are protected when they travel to other European countries.

Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU’s Justice Commissioner said that their protection will now travel with them, saying, ”An estimated one in five women in Europe suffer some kind of violence at least once in their lives. Sadly, the most common form of physical violence is inflicted by someone close to the woman, usually an intimate partner”.

The full interview can be heard here.

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