Domestic and gender-based violence

Domestic violence

The Threat Management Unit of the Provincial Police, which was established in 2019, is the internal police coordination office for domestic violence. In 2024, 16 (26) cases were registered in which three police removals and one prohibition order were issued. The police received a total of 195 reports of domestic violence or conflicts. Due to an adjusted definition (since 2023), comparisons with the previous year are only possible to a limited extent. In 2024, 51 cases of domestic violence were reported (2023: 69).

In the reporting year, the Liechtenstein Women's Shelter provided inpatient care for 19 (previous year: 17) women and 23 (15) children due to domestic violence. The number of occupancy days increased significantly. In addition, 72 telephone consultations took place. The outpatient advice center, which has been fully staffed during opening hours since November 2024, provided short-, medium- and long-term support to 27 clients. The information and advice center for women (infra) recorded 10 contacts due to violence against women, including physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence.

Victim support registered 56 (45) new counseling cases, including 8 (11) cases of domestic violence, 11 (10) cases of sexual violence and 2 (3) cases of sexual violence against minors. The Association for Men's Issues counseled 3 victims of violence and one perpetrator of violence.

Gender-specific homicides
In 2024, Europe continued to record worrying numbers of targeted homicides against women within close social relationships (femicides), although the number of unreported cases is probably higher due to incomplete or non-standardized data collection. A total of 27 femicides were registered in Austria in 2024, with more than half of the victims being over 60 years old. The majority of the crimes took place in a family or partnership environment. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 26 completed domestic homicides were recorded in Switzerland in 2024 (2023: 25), accounting for 57.8% of all completed homicides registered by the police in Switzerland (total: 45). Of the 26 victims, 19 were killed within a current or former partnership (17 women and 2 men). One minor and 6 adults (one woman, 5 men) were killed within a family or other kinship relationship. The above figures from Switzerland show that there are also homicides of men within close social relationships (androcides).

In the case of domestic violence, a high number of unreported cases can be assumed, as many victims do not seek help due to shame or fear of stigmatization. Current developments underline the need to recognize domestic and gender-specific violence as a worrying social problem and to take countermeasures. Further research and awareness-raising is needed in order to provide the necessary support to those affected.

Istanbul Convention

Liechtenstein ratified the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in 2021. On 31 May of the reporting year, the Commission of Experts (GREVIO) made its first recommendations to Liechtenstein, the implementation of which must be reported to the government by the end of May 2027 at the latest.

The recommendations include the creation of a national implementation plan with clear objectives, timetables and responsibilities in order to implement measures in a strategic and binding manner. They also call for a clear legal definition of domestic violence so that those affected, authorities and courts have a uniform basis and gaps in legal protection are avoided. Further recommendations concern the expansion of specific support services for particularly vulnerable groups such as victims of forced marriage and female genital mutilation, as well as the expansion of state coordination structures to ensure that prevention, protective measures and prosecution are permanently secured. For the current year, the government has prioritized the GREVIO recommendation to create a mandatory six-hour violence prevention counselling service and the introduction of alternative judicial measures to prevent offenders from reoffending. Legal implementation is planned for spring 2025.
Non-governmental specialist agencies such as the women's shelter, infra and the VMR support the planned measures. However, in addition to counseling perpetrators, they are also calling for stronger victim protection. In particular, there must be earlier and more systematic intervention in cases of repeated violence. To this end, the procedure for removal and prohibition of entry must be simplified and regulated more restrictively in order to consistently implement the principle of "if you hit someone, you leave". Furthermore, the collection of data and the recording of relevant risk factors must be expanded in order to recognize developments and develop targeted measures.

In addition, the Convention is generally not well enough known among authorities and advice centers - especially with regard to the definition of violence, legal obligation and scope. Broad-based further training is needed here in order to create a common understanding, define clear processes and responsibilities and ensure a uniform attitude on the part of all agencies involved.

In order to implement these and other measures effectively, the responsible coordinating body needs to be staffed. Implementation is currently being coordinated by a working group that has been mandated without additional resources. It is not possible to implement the convention in this way.

 

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