Council of the EU calls for stronger action against cyber violence targeting girls

The Council of the EU has called for stronger action to protect girls and young women from cyber violence.

In conclusions approved on 29 June 2026, EU ministers said online abuse against girls is increasing and requires more effective prevention, victim support, law enforcement, and platform accountability.

The conclusions focus on forms of abuse such as cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sexist hate speech, and technology-facilitated abuse.

Council conclusions are not new legislation. They are a political position agreed by EU governments. They set priorities for member states and the European Commission and can shape future policy, funding, enforcement, and cooperation.

The Council’s position is based on a report by the European Institute for Gender Equality. According to the Council, interviews with teenagers across the EU show that cyber violence affects girls and young women disproportionately. Girls are often targeted from the moment they begin using digital technologies and social media.

The Council also says that girls and young women aged 13 to 18 consider current prevention efforts inadequate. It links online abuse to wider gender inequalities, harmful stereotypes, victim blaming, and norms that tolerate male aggression.

The conclusions call on national governments to provide care, mental health support, and legal assistance to victims. They also stress the need to consider factors such as age, disability, and sexual orientation when designing support services.

Education is another focus. Ministers call for stronger digital literacy in schools, including online safety, awareness of disinformation, and understanding of technologies that can enable gender-based violence. They also call for education on digital consent, especially in relation to the non-consensual sharing of explicit images.

The Council asks for better guidance for parents, caregivers, and legal guardians. It also recommends practical tools, including free parental control software, and training for teachers and other professionals so they can respond safely when cyber violence occurs.

The conclusions also call for stronger enforcement of existing EU laws, including the Digital Services Act and the AI Act. Ministers say more investment is needed in law enforcement capacity, technical expertise, evidence gathering, and cross-border cooperation.

Online platforms and social media providers are also addressed. The Council says they should design services with safety in mind, moderate content effectively, and prevent the misuse of their systems. It also supports funding for trusted flaggers who identify and report illegal content, including gender-based violence.

The conclusions further call for long-term research and better data on the psychological, social, and economic impact of cyber violence on girls. They also highlight the need to study the role of sexist hate speech and online communities such as the ‘manosphere’ and ‘incel’ spaces.

Clea Papaellina, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of Cyprus, said the conclusions recognise cyber violence against girls as real, widespread, and rapidly evolving. She said schools, parents, and law enforcement need better tools to prevent abuse and ensure consequences for online violence.