Criminal offenses for domestic violence increased by 11% in 2023 compared to 2022. An action plan, which involves prevention from a very young age, has been adopted to better combat this type of violence mainly affecting women.
In total, 1,939 offences were recorded, according to the annual report of the Geneva Observatory on Domestic Violence. A record number of 111 restraining orders were issued against the perpetrators of this type of violence. 80% of the victims are women. The violence mainly takes place between partners at 57%, 26% are ex-spouses. For Nathale Fontanet, there is an increase “without a doubt” in violence. “We fear that this is only the tip of the iceberg,” she adds.
Faced with these figures, which show the persistence of domestic violence year after year, the Council of State has adopted an action plan which will be deployed until 2028. A major investigation will be launched among the police and the victims. Another planned measure: improve prevention at school by strengthening sexual and emotional education courses. “The goal is to do a lot of prevention. We realized that, in these lessons, certain children discovered that what was happening at home was not normal,” indicates the State Councilor.
The support provided to the perpetrators will be analysed by the Court of Auditors. “We will certainly come back with changes, because we realise that the rate of recidivism is very high. Getting the perpetrators to understand that they must make changes seems essential to us.” Nathalie Fontanet calls on relatives and witnesses not to remain passive and to encourage victims to testify.
