What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is violence in the family or partnership. It injures physically and emotionally. Domestic violence has different forms. Domestic violence is prohibited in Switzerland.

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is violence in the family or partnership: Between married people or people who are or were together. It does not matter if they live together. Violence between parents and children or between brothers/sisters is also domestic violence.

Domestic violence can lead to mental and psychosomatic illnesses. Domestic violence also endangers the health and social development of children.

Who is affected?

Everyone can be affected by domestic violence: young and old people, people with and without a Swiss passport, rich and poor families. A lot of people in Switzerland suffer from violence in their families or partnerships. It's important for victims to get help.

Various forms

There are different forms of domestic violence – physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence. Often, different forms of violence occur at the same time.

For example: constant insults, forbidding contact, imprisoning, pushing, controlling, forcing someone to have sex, taking away money, forbidding someone to learn a language and neglecting children. Threats are also domestic violence.

Domestic violence is prohibited

Domestic violence is prohibited. It will be prosecuted. If the police become aware of domestic violence, they must investigate, even if the person who experienced the violence does not want this.