8 Femicides in Switzerland

On May 11, 2015, Chiara Paez's body will be found in Argentina. She was killed by her friend because she didn't want to abort. Murdered because of their gender – a female. A few weeks later, 200,000 people in Buenos Aires go on the street to face female and systematic violence against women. On banners and pins, the battle cry and name of the movement stands Ni una menos (not one less).

The movement also spills into Switzerland. Since 2019, the collective of the same name has existed in Zurich, in which people organize themselves in order to actively draw attention to cases of female female and to illuminate structural violence. Since the beginning of the year, eight cases of female have been recorded. One female per week. Without these civilian structures, we could not show any figures for female, because neither municipalities, cantons nor the federal government show female in crime statistics how this 16 EU countries have been doing since 2016.

The situation in Switzerland

However, what is listed in crime statistics are cases of sexual violence. In crime statistics from 2023, there is a small decline in cases of sexual violence recorded, but the level remains at the same height as during Corona pandemic. The most common form of sexual violence that the police captured is sexual harassment with 1575 reported cases.

As is well known, the data on sexualized violence is difficult to assess. On the one hand, there has been a clear increase since 2009 when it comes to the cases of sexual violence recorded by the police. On the other hand, the interpretation is why the numbers rise, complex – and paradoxical. One reason for the increase can be an actual increase in cases of sexual violence. But it should be noted that more sexual violence is reported using sensitization through prevention and educational campaigns. Although this is an important development, it also means that the cases in statistics increase.

The data situation is clearer for the gender of the injured persons: more than 85 percent of people affected by sexual violence are women. But what is done to better protect women?

The states' list of measures

On April 1, 2018, Switzerland joined the Istanbul Convention. The European Convention is intended to contribute to contraception and combat violence against women and domestic violence. In this way, the state undertakes to take measures against gender -specific and domestic violence as well as for gender equality.

«The Istanbul Convention is an enormously important basis for combating gender-related violence. It offers clear and concrete demands and measures. It is a kind of ‹to-do list› for a state, »says Blertë Berisha, co-manager of the umbrella organization Frauenhäuser Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

A recorded success of the Istanbul Convention is parliamentary approval for the establishment of crisis centers against violence. Sacrifices of sexual, domestic or gender -related violence can be found in the centers low -threshold, specialized medical and psychological immediate aid. « Usually the police are always included in a hospital or in the Permanence, » explains Julia Meier, responsible for political work at the NGO Brava, in an interview with Watson. « The hurdle is much greater for victims of sexual violence to seek help. » In the spring session in 2023, the Council of States equal to the National Council and accepted the advances. The federal government and the cantons are now responsible for the implementation.

As a further improvement, Julia Meier mentions the adaptation of AIG 50. People with a migration background, especially women, are disproportionately affected by violence. The reasons for this are versatile, in addition to social exclusion, uncertain financial situation and racist discrimination, there are also legal dependencies. 69 percent of women looking for protection in a women's shelter have a migration background.

In the specific case of family reunification, however, the legal situation could be improved. Many people who follow their spouses to Switzerland can suddenly find their way into a strong dependency on their partner due to the legal handling, since their residence status has been linked to marriage for three years. People have to stay in marriage, even if violence occurs within the partnership. Since you are afraid to lose your residence status, you are less likely to seek help. Since the acceptance of the AIG 50, which adapts the hardship clause, a family community can be dissolved if domestic violence can be demonstrated.

Large prevention campaign

The first national prevention campaign launched in autumn 2025. In this context, a three -digit emergency number for those affected by violence is set up.

The federal government has deported the actual implementation of the hotline to the cantons, so there is no uniform national solution. The first friction occurs in the implementation. In the canton of Bern, the specialized hotline “Appellen!” without further ado off the canton for another solution, like one Research the «WOZ» shows. Julia Meier sees the problem in the way in which solutions are tackled: «Unfortunately, it is often only intended in partial aspects. A national prevention campaign is a big win, but if there are no funds in protective structures, they do little for the protection of women. »

Especially with existing structures such as the women's shelters, there is clearly a need for action. Switzerland has 22 women's shelters with a total of 213 family rooms (2023). According to the Istanbul Convention, at least one family room per 10,000 inhabitants should be made available-Switzerland does not even meet a quarter of the recommendation with 0.24 rooms. «Switzerland was criticized by Grevio and will probably become again. Likewise, it doesn't look exactly as if domestic violence is falling, »says Blertë Berisha.

However, the situation has improved since 2019. The number of women's shelters has increased from 18 to 22 and the available rooms from 134 to 213. Nevertheless, the utilization of the women's shelters still scratches at the upper limit of the portable. One Analysis of protective and emergency accommodation The conference of the cantonal social director SODK shows that the average freestyle occupancy of the women's shelters is 76 percent.

At first glance, this does not seem very drastic, but it is important to consider that women's shelters also have a crisis function. «The SODK recommends an annual average occupancy of 75 percent and not to exceed it. The 75 percent do not sound so full, but it means that one room must be free-an emergency room-so that a women's shelter as an inpatient crisis intervention offer can adequately meet its order, »explains the Co-Managing Director of the DAO, Blertë Berisha, the data for utilization. In addition, the length of stay has risen sharply in recent years.

As the reason for the longer length of stay, the DAO mentions in one Media release from June The housing crisis that makes it more difficult to find affordable and safe connection solutions. However, it also takes responsibility for the authorities, who, despite increasing awareness of domestic violence and the increasing number of those seeking help, do not react quickly enough.

In the end it takes more money

Some specific solutions for improved protection of women are ready for implementation in the federal government and the cantons or are in implementation. But a resource is still missing specifically: « It very often fails because of money, » says Julia Meier. Therefore, Brava, together with Campax, SP and other organizations, now calls for CHF 350 million to be invested in the protection of women.

It sounds similar from Blertë Berisha on the financial situation of the women's shelters: «The financing and the resources of the women's shelters are sometimes very precarious. The women's shelters need solid and sustainable financing in order to be able to fulfill their order and purpose. This applies to both human resources and financial resources. »