Commission on the Status Women, CSW 2013 May 27, 2013 Interventions in a Swedish context Olga Persson, Secretary to the committee, National Coordinator Domestic Violence olga.persson@regeringskansliet.se Legislation Interventions National Coordinator 1
Highlights in the legal system 1965 Criminalization of marital rape 1979 Prohibition of corporal punishment of children 1982 Assault in private homes, a public prosecution issue 1988 Restraining orders reviewed 2011 1998 A new offence in the penal code, Gross Violation of a Woman s integrity Highlights in the legal system 1999 The Ban against the Purchase of Sexual Services 2007 the Social Services Act obliges municipalities to provide social services to women subjected to domestic violence / intimate partner violence 2011 Law against stalking 2012 A national coordinator against domestic violence 2
Gross violation of a person s integrety A person who commits criminal acts as defined in Chapters 3, 4 or 6 of the Swedish Penal Code against a person with whom they have, or have previously had, a close relationship will be sentenced for gross violation of integrity to imprisonment for at least six months and at most six years if each of the acts were part of: a repeated violation of the person s integrity and the acts were liable to severely damage the person s self-esteem cording to the first paragraph, a person who commits criminal acts as defined in Chapters 3, 4 or 6 of the Swedish Penal Code against a person with whom they Nationella samordnaren have, have mot previously våld had, i nära a close relationer relationship will be sentenced for gross violation of integrity to imprisonment for at least six months and at most six years if each of the acts were part of a repeated violation of the person s integrity and the acts were liable to severely damage the person s self-esteem. Th d h t t th t if th t itt d b i t t h h i h b i d ith h h i h b Gross violation of a woman s integrity The second paragraph states that if the acts were committed by a man against a woman to whom he is, or has been, married or with whom he is, or has been, cohabiting under circumstances comparable to marriage, he will instead be sentenced for gross violation of a woman s integrity to the same punishment 3
The dynamics of violence The legislation is based on an understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and stress the most common perpetrator / victim The purpose of the legislation on gross violation of integrity is to tackle cases of systematic violation. Such cases may include a number of acts, each of which has a low penalty. This includes among other things: assaults harassment trespassing sexual violence Crime of gross violation of integrity enables an overall assessment of behavior which was aimed to seriously damage the person's self-esteem Gross violation of a woman s integrity Will be increased to 9 months Include violating the restraining order Destructing of private property 4
Number of recorded offences regarding Gross Violation of a Woman s Integrity 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Current interventions National Action plan 2007 - evaluated 2010 Paradigm shift in the municipalities Positive trend in the support provided by the social services to women subjected to violence, but.. The first national review on shelters shows: 206 shelters 7/10 are run by non- profit organisations 5
From legislation to handbook 200 6 200 7 200 9 SOU 2006:65 Beeing responsible for your interventions (Att ta ansvar för sina insatser) Prop. 2006/07:38 The social services support to women subjected to violence 5 kap. 11 SoL SOSFS 2009:22 The social services support for women subjected to violence and children witnessing violence - General recommendations 2011 Violence The social services support for women subjected to violence and to children witnessing violence a national handbook 2014 - Regulations A national coordinator Since 2012 Supporting relevant authorities, municipalities and the justice system to enhance the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of efforts against violence in close relationships. Special focus on the justice system. Taking active steps to improve collaboration between relevant actors Disseminate and enhance the impact of existing knowledge Strenghten the NGO s working with domestic violence 6
A map of contacts a woman might have when she is subjected to violence Beräknad kontakt med minst 5 (polis och socialtjänst) - >20 olika myndighetspersoner vid minst 10 - >50 tillfällen under första året efter polisanmälan Brottsoffer - myndighet Brottsskadeersättning Akuta stödinsatser Riskbedömning Långsiktig behandling Utredning max 4 mån Bearbetning Förhandling Domslut Tingsrätt IFO - barn bedömning Utredning om vårdnad, boende och umgänge Skilsmässa bodelning Kriscentrum mm Beräkning av försörjningsstöd enl socialstyrelsens allmänna råd för våldsutsatta kvinnor Socialtjänst kommun stadsdel Ansökan om besöksförbud Familjerätt Skadedokumentation av rättsläkare Brottsutredning Försörjnings -stöd Sjukhus Vårdcentral Tandläkare Skyddat boende, ny bostad, kanske annan kommun Frivilligorg anisationer Person subjected to violence Försäkrings kassan Skyddat boende Kvinnojou r Barnomsorg och skola Migrationsverket Arbetsgivare Stödsamtal Vittnesstöd mm Brottsoffer -jour Skattemyndighet kontaktperson vid umgänge/överlämn Polis Anmälan Åklagarmyndighet Riskbedömning Förhör Ev byte av skola, kontakt med kurator skolsköterska, elevvårdskonferens mm Uppehållstillstånd mm Kronofogd emyndighe t Eget nätverk Skyddad adress sekretessmarkering kvarskrivning Skulder pga påtvingad flytt, inkomstbortfall mm Försäkringsbolag Advokat målsägand e-biträde Behandling av skador, sjukdomar Psykiatrikontakt Tandvård Bostadsbidrag Underhållsstöd Sjukskrivning, Rehab plan mm Arbetsförmedling Nytt jobb, praktik, arbetsmarknadsutbildning, vuxenutbildning skadestånd Examples of barriers Lack of collaboration Short-term financing Lack of confidence between relevant actors Laws on secrecy/ The Secrecy act Crisis management Lack of systematic prevention The invisible children! ( Considered victims in the SSA but not in the penal code) 7
What can we do better? Public health issue Health care system, social services, legal system Preschool, school Early interventions Accessible support Break the cycle of violence address the perpetrator 8