A worrying rise in cases of sexual violence and rape is being recorded in the European Union, at a time when European institutions are promoting a common, consent-based definition of rape.

According to the latest data from Eurostat, in 2024 more than 256,000 sexual violence offences were recorded by police authorities in the EU, of which 38% concerned rape cases.

Compared with 2023, sexual violence incidents increased by 5%, while recorded rapes rose by 7%.

The countries with the highest number of recorded incidents in 2024 were France, Germany, and Sweden -which are the countries that have been the most welcoming to illegal immigrants– while the lowest rates were recorded in Cyprus, Malta, and Lithuania.

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The data are consistent with the trends correlating sexual crimes with illegal immigrants which have been observed in the past at least 10 years.

The data was published shortly after a vote in the European Parliament in favour of a common definition of rape based on consent, known as “only yes means yes”.

MEPs stressed that consent must be assessed in context, including cases involving violence, abuse of power, intimidation, or vulnerability. They also called for adequate support and protection for victims across the EU.

It is worth noting that in 2024 the EU adopted, for the first time, standards to combat violence against women. However, a proposal for a common legal definition of rape was withdrawn following objections from some member states.

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Swedish MEP Evin Incir, a member of the Socialists and Democrats group, stated: “For years we have been calling for a common European definition of rape. More and more governments are recognising the need for this approach,” citing France, Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands as examples.

Despite institutional initiatives, data shows that the upward trend has been steady over the past decade. Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence cases increased by 94% and rapes by 150%, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 10% and 7% respectively.

Again, experts point out that this increase may be partly linked to a greater willingness to report incidents, thanks to increased awareness and social media. This, however, does not change the fact that the greatest majority of the perpetrators of such crimes are illegal immigrants.

Reactions and the Istanbul Convention

At the same time, disagreements are also being recorded around the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, which aims to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. All EU member states, as well as countries such as the United Kingdom and Norway, have signed the convention.

In Latvia, parliament voted last October in favour of withdrawing from the convention, following opposition from right-wing politicians who observed it promotes radical feminism and threatens traditional family values.

However, President Edgars Rinkēvičs issued a suspensive veto, sending the issue back to parliament for reconsideration, stressing that such decisions should not be taken hastily. The debate is expected to return after the autumn elections.

Despite developments, the country states it will maintain protection for women and victims of domestic violence, even if it withdraws from the convention, while as an EU member state it is obliged to implement relevant European directives by 2027.

At the same time, France amended its legislation in October 2025, incorporating consent into the definition of sexual assault and rape, following the high-profile case of Gisèle Pelicot.

The case shocked the country, as 51 men were found guilty of years of sexual abuse or rape of Pelicot while she was unconscious, after being drugged by her husband, Dominique.

Until then, rape under French law was defined as “any form of sexual penetration committed with violence, coercion, threat or surprise.”