Expansion of support services for victims of sexual and domestic violence
Published: Wednesday, Oct 9th 2024, 14:10
Updated At: Wednesday, Oct 9th 2024, 15:40
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The Federal Council wants to expand the support services for victims of sexual and domestic violence. To this end, it has submitted a partial revision of the Victim Assistance Act for consultation. This concerns medical assistance for victims and the forensic documentation of crimes.
With the partial revision of the Victim Assistance Act, the state government is implementing motions from parliament, as announced on Wednesday. The motions called for a legal basis for the establishment of crisis centers for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
The bill does not stipulate the creation of crisis centers, as Justice Minister Beat Jans told the federal media. It leaves the form of organization up to the cantons, which are also allowed to work together. Moreover, there are already cantonal facilities. The primary aim is to strengthen the rights of victims - especially women.
Immediate medical and psychological treatment by specialist staff is essential for them, as Jans explained. In addition, injuries and traces must be documented by forensic experts as quickly as possible.
Documentation even without criminal charges
Low-threshold access to both is key. The Federal Council therefore stipulates that the cantons must provide sufficient services and guarantee specialized treatment and forensic examinations around the clock.
It also proposes that access to forensic documentation should be free of charge in future. The state government also wants to decouple the forensic examination of evidence from criminal charges.
Victims can therefore request documentation, regardless of whether they report the perpetrator or not. According to Jans, the documentation can be used as evidence if a report is filed later. This in turn could have a positive effect on the reporting rate and convictions for sexual or domestic violence.
In the report on the bill, the state government also stated that other victim support services are not dependent on a criminal complaint. This change removes an existing uncertainty. Victims are thus given the time they need to decide whether to press charges.
Financing analogous to the other services
The Federal Council intends to finance forensic medical documentation, like the other support services under the Victim Assistance Act, by means of subsidiary emergency aid. This means that costs can be covered if they are not borne by other institutions such as social insurance. This is also the case if the costs are not covered in full, for example due to deductibles or excesses charged to the insured person.
In order for the proposed measures to be effective, victims must be aware of their rights and the contact points for initial medical care, the Federal Council continued. It therefore wants to explicitly state in the Victim Assistance Act that the cantons must provide appropriate information about their assistance services.
Jans was unable to provide any information on the cost implications. Currently, around CHF 15 million is spent annually on emergency aid. The Minister of Justice explained that the additional costs should be limited. The consultation will last until January 24, 2025.
"Frightening figures"
For the Federal Council, the fight against domestic and sexual violence is a high priority, as Jans explained. The figures are "frightening". Every month, two women or girls are killed in a domestic context.
In 2023 alone, over 19,000 cases of assault were reported, mainly against women and girls at home. Domestic rapes have increased, while those in public spaces have declined.
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