After months of intense negotiation, the European Union has agreed in principle on legislation to combat violence against women and girls, in a comprehensive directive that aims to harmonize legal definitions and minimum prison sentences for offenders across the bloc. The law, which was agreed last week by representatives of the European Parliament and member states, seeks to protect women in the 27-nation EU from gender-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment. It criminalizes cyberstalking, cyberharassment and online incitement to hatred or violence a…