Swiss authorities step up efforts to combat domestic violence
In 2018, there were more than 18,000 reported cases of domestic violence.
Keystone / Luis Berg
Following reports of alarming rates of intimate-partner violence, the federal government has announced it is boosting support for awareness campaigns and prevention projects in the country.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council (executive body) adopted a legal orderExternal link to combat violence against women and domestic violence, along with earmarked funding of CHF3 million ($3.03 million). This in effect creates the legal basis for the government to implement its own programmes or provide grants to external organisations.
The funds are expected to support awareness-raising campaigns, training for specialists and programmes for victims or those at risk of violence.
The legal order will come into force in January 2020, but the money will not flow into programmes until the order is approved by parliament as part of the 2021 budget cycle.
Domestic violence remains widespread in Switzerland. In 2018, Switzerland recorded 18,522 cases of intimate-partner violence. Twenty-seven people died as a result of domestic violence, among them 24 women. The number of women that have died from domestic violence is higher in Switzerland than in most European countries.
Switzerland signed the Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women, which came into force in 2018, and has been taking various steps to strengthen laws and practices on the subject. In July the government announcedExternal link measures to better protect victims of domestic violence and stalking.
Related Stories
Popular Stories
More
International Geneva
A Geneva-based global health foundation came close to ‘collapse’. Where were regulators?
Swiss-EU treaties: signatures handed in for Kompass initiative
This content was published on
The committee behind the Compass Initiative submitted the signatures it had collected to the Federal Chancellery on Friday.
This content was published on
Esther Grether has died aged 89. Considered one of Switzerland’s leading entrepreneurs, the owner of the Basel-based Doetsch Grether Group was also a major shareholder in the Swatch Group and an art collector.
This content was published on
The flag of the Swiss Wrestling Federation has been received at the start of the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival in Mollis, canton Glarus.
Figurine heads in Zurich school not considered discriminatory
This content was published on
The 16 carved figurine heads in the auditorium of the Hirschengraben school building in Zurich are not discriminatory, according to an independent expert report.
Swiss political parties report income of CHF22.4 million for 2024
This content was published on
Ten parties reported income totalling CHF22.4 million for 2024, less than in the 2023 election year. The reports are based on the regulations for transparency in political financing.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland: higher rate of domestic violence deaths
This content was published on
The number of women dying as a result of domestic violence is higher in Switzerland than in many other European countries, says Le Matin Dimanche.
Shelters for victims of domestic violence struggle with capacity issues
This content was published on
Switzerland's 19 women's shelters had to turn away nearly 500 requests last year due to the lack of space, a Swiss newspaper has reported.
This content was published on
Election results show slow-but-steady progress on women's equality, but the pace of change must increase because women are needed in the workforce.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.