The European Union (EU) has passed its first legislation to combat violence against women. 

The law requires all EU countries to criminalize female genital mutilation, forced marriage and online harassment.

The new legislation aims to protect women in the EU from gender-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and cyber violence such as online stalking and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

It also makes it easier for victims of domestic abuse to report crimes, which, according to a new framework, will be punishable by jail sentences of up to five years.

Punishments for crimes against children, spouses, ex-spouses, politicians, journalists, and human rights activists can be even more severe.