CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Fremy, Erell Eglantine |
|---|---|
| Title | Addressing Image-Based Sexual Abuse in the EU: An Evaluation of the Current Legal Framework |
| Summary | This thesis examines the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 14th, 2024, on combatting violence against women and domestic violence (the Directive) through the lens of Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA). This thesis seeks to understand how the European Union addresses the issue of IBSA through its latest legislation, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. IBSA is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of abusive behaviors involving the non-consensual creation, capture and/or sharing of intimate images, including manipulated media such as deepfakes. This analysis uses a qualitative and interpretive methodology, combining documentary analysis of EU legislation with a review of existing academic literature and case studies. The Directive, while representing a significant milestone as the first legally binding European legislation addressing such harms, shows substantial limitations. Although the Directive adopts appropriate rhetoric to protect women from IBSA, several provisions fall short or are missing to ensure holistic, victim-centered protection of all women. This assessment identifies several strengths such as the focus on preventative measures, advocacy, and transnational protection, but also reveals key shortcomings, including the lack of an intersectional approach as well as concern about victim anonymity. |
| Supervisor | Ashraf, Cameran Hooshang |
| Department | Undergraduate Studies BA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/fremy_erell.pdf |
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