Emergency apps and elite teams. - European countries plan to reduce domestic violence.
Dealing with severe domestic abuse and gender-based killings continues to disturb the whole society. Majority of the victims are women, and there's an alarming increase in these cases during COVID-19 pandemic in some EU countries. The EU Council has recently given a go-ahead for an EU directive aiming to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Measures taken by individual countries differ widely. Here's an outline.
Germany: Inadequate Number of Women's Shelters
The number of domestic violence victims in Germany keeps increasing, according to the recent data in 2023, there were more than 256,000 victims - an increase of 6.5% as compared to 2022. Women are the primary targets of these crimes. In the past year, 155 women were murdered by their partners or ex-partners. The current government focus on reducing partner violence. The federal government has been making some progress by supporting various helplines, including the "Violence against Women" hotline and the "Violence-Free into the Future" app. The app can run secretly on affected women's phones documenting the violence for court use.
However, the federal government also plans to implement stricter rules for convicted partners and ex-partners by making them attend anti-violence training. The use of electronic ankle monitors is also under consideration by the Federal Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser. Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) is pushing for a legal right to protection and counseling for victims and aims to make the federal government financially accountable for addressing the urgent need for women's shelter spaces. This can be pivotal in providing the necessary women's shelter spaces since currently, there are 14,000 missing spaces, which have been a significant demand for years by victims.
Spain: A Leader in the Fight against Violence against Women
Spain has been a trailblazer in Europe when it comes to combating violence against women. Legislations were in place almost 20 years ago, and now there's a state monitoring agency for domestic and gender-based violence. The issue is considered a "state responsibility with high priority" since 2017. Special trainings for judges, lawyers, teachers, and police officers, fast-track legal proceedings with strict sentences, hotlines providing counseling in more than 50 languages, and special units at police services are some of the measures taken. Femicide cases are often taken up in political discussions, and the police have units dedicated to responding to domestic violence cases. Specialized judges order preventive measures based on the level of threat, including around-the-clock personal security for victims. Technology is being used: Electronic ankle monitors have been in use for over 15 years with more than 4,000 in operation in early 2024.
France: Outrage and Special Units
France is also taking a stand against violence against women. The country passed a law in 2016 criminalizing domestic violence along with 'violence order' to safeguard victims. There are dedicated police units and helplines, counseling centers, and shelters as well. The government has also launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness. However, the outrage still persists, as exhibited by the 2020 protests over the death of a young woman. The police are under pressure to act more swiftly and effectively. In 2021, a new law was announced, enabling confiscation of weapons from individuals convicted of domestic violence.
The shocking femicides in France have outraged people; victimized women had earlier unsuccessfully approached authorities. To tackle this issue, the government prioritized domestic violence reports, created positions within the police force, and established special units for domestic violence cases at the courts. The government further announced setting up a women's shelter in each of the approximately 100 French departments within 24 hours of reporting, ensuring immediate protection for victims.
Though Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti announced a 20% decrease in domestic violence killings in 2023, victims' rights organizations believe the cases to remain significant. The organization "Nous Toutes" claimed 134 cases in 2023.
Switzerland: Electronic Surveillance
Switzerland is taking steps to counter domestic violence. The country implemented a law in 2019 that allowed the courts to secure the premises of the offender, and both parties to be under surveillance; the law also made confinement possible. There are hotlines and shelters too. However, there's a lack of effectiveness in tracking electronic surveillance, which can result in a failure to obtain necessary evidence. The Geneva canton implemented the 24-hour presence of a police officer at the home of the victim only after the assault in 2014, and only against the offender's permission. There's a need for further development in technological tools to monitor and record domestic violence situations, equipping the authorities to better handle these cases.
A pilot project is happening in Zurich where potential aggressors and potential victims are electronically monitored. This is for women who have received a court order stating that a man must keep a distance from them. If these two individuals get too close, an alarm goes off at the monitoring center. If this plan proves successful, it is planned to continue and extend it to other cantons. In 2023, Switzerland experienced 25 deaths from domestic violence, 20 of which were women and girls. In July, the new sexual criminal law comes into effect. Rape or sexual coercion will now be recognized even if the perpetrator did not explicitly threaten the victim. In the upcoming year, a central phone number will be set up for the first time for victims of violence to reach around the clock.
In Austria, men who threaten women can be expelled from their shared residences without much difficulty. This exclusion and entry ban was imposed more than 15,000 times last year. This exclusion is considered to be an important tool in preventing domestic violence. In most countries, the decision about expelling perpetrators lies with the police, not the courts, and the officers must also receive training. Birgitt Haller from the Institute for Conflict Research in Vienna says that more measures are needed to stop domestic violence-related killings. Last year, 26 of such killings occurred. Haller created a study for several ministries which advocates for increasing awareness about police and victim protection facility help resources, more social work with male youths, and better mental healthcare for troubled men.
In Italy, femicide has been prevalent for a while. Statistics from the Interior Ministry in Rome reveal that around 30 women have been killed this year. Since five years ago, the "Code Red" has been in place to protect women, enabling faster police and court interventions to prevent domestic violence. Last year, the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded to societal outrage over several femicides with additional measures. This package includes increased surveillance of men with a history of domestic violence. Additionally, women's protection centers are to be strengthened.
In Greece, femicides and extreme domestic violence have increased considerably recently. These cases frequently cause shock and outrage amongst the public. Recently, a young woman was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in front of a police station, where she had previously sought help. The government has created a "panic button app" intended to raise awareness of domestic violence and increase the number of women's shelters and help points.
The "panic button app" was originally piloted as a prototype in Athens and Thessaloniki and is now available nationwide for both women and men. Pushing the button summons the police, who must respond immediately. According to the Interior Ministry, there was a 60% increase in distress calls in May this year compared to the previous year. In May, 1000 people were arrested for domestic violence-related offenses.
In Cyprus, femicide is now its own specific offense. The perpetrator faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment. With this law, a "socially disturbing reality" has been brought into view. In Cyprus, with its population of roughly 900,000 people, there were 22 femicides in the past four years, according to the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Family Violence (SPAVO).
In Cyprus, femicide has become a separate offense (Delictum sui generis) since July 2022. The perpetrator is faced with high penalties, including life imprisonment. With this law, a "socially disturbing reality" has been highlighted. In Cyprus, with a population of about 900,000 people, there were 22 femicides in the past four years, as reported by the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Family Violence (SPAVO).
In Turkey, women's rights organizations are striving against femicides and violence against women. They believe the government is their biggest enemy. The government has been out of the Istanbul Convention for close to three years, which demands countries to create laws and rules to better protect women. The Turkish government argues that their existing rules are already adequate.
Women's rights activists chastise the withdrawal as a concession to the perpetrators and complain that violence against women in Turkey often goes unpunished. The Turkish government does not release official figures on violence against women. The platform "We Will Stop Femicides" tracks and records femicides and dubious deaths of women since 2010. In the first four months of this year, over 120 women in Turkey were killed by men. In 2023, during the same period, the number was almost 90.
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Germany could benefit from implementing stricter penalties for convicted perpetrators of domestic violence, such as making them attend anti-violence training and considering the use of electronic ankle monitors. This is in line with the EU's directive aimed at combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The EU's push for stricter measures against domestic violence also highlights the need for Germany to address the significant shortage of women's shelter spaces, which currently stands at 14,000 missing spaces. These spaces are crucial in providing safety and support to women who are victims of gender-based violence.
