Male violence: women's shelters had to refuse 1,200 victims of violence

Abuses abound in Swiss households. They are mostly secret, affecting all social classes and all age groups: More than 1 7 cases of domestic violence were recorded by police in 2017 only. The number of unreported cases is much higher.

In order to better protect victims – mainly women and children – Switzerland has been participating since 1 April in a binding convention of the Council of Europe, known as the Istanbul Convention.

Switzerland is lagging behind the guidelines

Unpublished figures of the umbrella organization of the Swiss women's shelters (DAO): The women's houses had to leave in 2017 due to lack of space and money. Money reject every fourth victim of violence. 612 women seeking help and as many children did not find a place in the institution that they asked for.

It is true that some women have been referred to extra-cantonal women's shelters. Many, however, ended up in a pen or had to find a solution in the private sphere.

Like Laura S. *: Her husband beat her. For years. The blows were particularly hard when he had been drinking. It is only after much hesitation that she could excel, take refuge in a women 's shelter. But all the parts of the canton were occupied. She and her children had to spend a week in a boarding house, in constant fear that their husband might find them, and without taking care of them and their children.

A Safe Shelter for 10 – 000 Inhabitants

An unsustainable state, says Susan Peter, president of the umbrella organization of the Swiss refuges. "Women's shelters are chronically underfunded," she says. Many still depend on donations. "There is an urgent need for more seats and more staff." This is the only way for Switzerland to cope with its new international obligations.

The number of additional seats needed is controversial. The Council of Europe convention does not specify a concrete number. The United States Treaty states: "The Contracting Parties shall take the necessary legislative measures to permit the creation of adequate and easily accessible shelters in sufficient number."

The Convention refers to the recommendations of the Council of the United States. Europe. According to this document, for every 000 inhabitants, there must be safe family housing in a women's shelter. For Switzerland, this means that it is missing several hundred seats.

Additional support is missing

The implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Switzerland is coordinated by the Federal Office for Gender Equality. There too, there is a need for action. Spokesperson Sabine Baumgartner says: "Resources tend to be too scarce." The services provided by the cantons to manage women's shelters must therefore be safeguarded and harmonized – "particularly in times of increased economic pressure."

In turn, the cantons bend down. According to Martin Klöti (FDP / SG), President of the Conference of the Association of Directors of Social Protection, there are "basically" sufficient protective measures. However, he sees a lack of resources in the offers of additional assistance. For example, in assisted housing, after the shelter, or in victim counseling centers, which ensure that those affected do not end up in the women's shelter.

Length of stay increased

In fact, the problem is also acute in this so-called upstream and downstream zone. Because there are too few offers, women need to stay longer in women's shelters. The length of stay has increased massively, as shown by the figures of the umbrella organization. While victims of domestic violence spent an average of 27 days in the women's shelter in 2010, they were already 37 days in 2017 – as long as ever before.

In addition: In addition to the growing demand, the cases of affected women become more complex. According to Peter, the president of DAO, self-employed women are turning more and more to outpatient clinics. For this reason, mainly difficult cases accumulated in homes. "In addition to violence, women also often have financial and psychological problems, and we see more and more verhal high-level children," she explains This would mean that women would need more intensive care and would stay longer than before.

Time for 2020

Ratification of the Istanbul Convention has increased pressure on Switzerland. In the fall, the federal government intends to develop a roadmap with the cantons Legislation for the protection of victims of violence is planned by November. , a concrete concept of implementation to adhere to the Istanbul Convention should also be put in place

For too long, Switzerland can no longer resist international rules. By 2020 at the latest, the federal government is accountable to the Council l of Europe from the current state of affairs – including the question of whether there are sufficient grounds for protection.

* Name changed by the publishers

Posted on 30.06.2018 | Updated at 09:07