Addressing the issue of drug facilitated sexual violence and the online platforms used by perpetrators

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16390 | 22 April 2026

Signatories:

Baroness Shami CHAKRABARTI, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Kolbrún Áslaugar BALDURSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Ukraine, ALDE ; Baroness Sal BRINTON, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Baroness Thérèse COFFEY, United Kingdom, ECPA ; Ms Sascha FAXE, Denmark, SOC ; Ms Irena FERČIKOVÁ KONEČNÁ, Czechia, SOC ; Ms Aurora FLORIDIA, Italy, SOC ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, ALDE ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Ms Tuula HAATAINEN, Finland, SOC ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Iris LUARASI, Albania, SOC ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Giulia MURATORI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Mike READER, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Sam RUSHWORTH, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Lord Don TOUHIG, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Gala VELDHOEN, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Aleksandra VUKOVIĆ KUČ, Montenegro, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In the fight against gender-based violence, a new challenge is yet to be addressed with comprehensive laws and policies – the phenomenon of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA), specifically by intimate partners, and the sharing of images and videos of that abuse, as demonstrated by the case of Madame Gisèle Pelicot.

Madame Pelicot’s subsequent courage helped to shine a huge light on DFSA, but hers is a far from isolated case. Indeed, recent months have seen several similar crimes reported in the United Kingdom, Poland, and other countries, which require urgent attention. Furthermore, online platforms facilitate and/or assist such abuses. There are some where men can find willing participants to commit these crimes or learn from each other how to perpetrate these acts and escape justice.

Addressing this phenomenon must be a priority to protect and promote women's fundamental rights and prevent gender-based violence.

It is concerning that national responses to DFSA are inadequate, including in terms of monitoring, reporting, investigating, and prosecuting. These gaps and failures must be addressed as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, the assistance available to victims is far from adequate.

Online platforms and apps hosting DSFA content actively exploit a patchwork of regulatory loopholes and disjointed laws to insulate themselves from liability and prioritise profit over the safety of women.