Violence against women and domestic violence in relation to the Istanbul Convention

• Author: Jenny Julen Votinius
• Pages: 49-50

49

10 Violence against women and domestic violence in relation to the Istanbul

Convention

10.1 General (legal) context

10.1.1 Surveys and reports on issues of violence against wom en and domestic violence

The nat ional strategy to coun teract men’s violence ag ainst women, and honour-related

violence and oppression applies for the period 2016-2025, (Government Report SOU

2015:55). The strategy is to be evaluated after five years, and after the end of the strategy

period. The strategy aims to establish a holistic approach to the combat of men’s violence

against women, along with honour-related violence and oppression; including a strong link

between research and p ractice, and a thorough coordination of the work carried out by

different authorities at different levels.

In 2018, a Government Report presented a comprehensive survey of existing relapse

preventing measures for men who have exposed their relatives to violence, including

suggestions to strengthen and improve these measures.56

10.1.2 Overview of national acts on violence against women, domestic violence and issues

related to the Istanbul Convention

Swedish legislation regarding violence against women is primarily integrated into the Penal

code (1962:700). In addition, there are provisions specifically aiming to protect and

support the victims of violence, such as the Restraining Orders Act (1988:688).

In 2019, a Government inquiry was established to analyse whether a new o ffence should

be introduced in the Penal Code to specifically address honour-related violence and

oppression. The inquiry is scheduled to deliver its report on 30 September 2020.57

10.1.3 National provisions on online violence and online harassment

Swedish legislation in this matter is primarily integrated into the Penal code (1962:700).

In 2017, a new penalty provision was inserted in Chapter 4 of the Swedish Penal Code on

unlawful violation of privacy. It establishes criminal liability in certain cases for those who

violate someone else’s private life by spreading images or other information in a way that

is intended to cause tangible harm to the person who is the subject of the information

(Government Bill prop. 2016/17:222).

10.1.4 Political and societal debate

Domestic violence has a high priority in the political debate, as can be seen in the

abovementioned national strategy to counteract men’s violence against women. From time

to time , the matter of domestic violence draws a lot of media attention, particularly in

connection with reports on individual cases. Af ter such reports, the theme tends to be

particularly high on the agenda in societal debate for a while.

A more recent discourse regards the activities of men who take it on themselves to push

certain moral behavi our or religious beliefs on persons living in their neighbourhood,

particularly young women. Such activities have been reported in different areas of

56 Government Report SOU 2018:37 Att bryta ett våldsamt beteende – återfallsförebyggande insatser för män

som utsätter närstående för våld, available (in Swedish only) at:

https://www.regeringen.se/49baeb/contentassets/739d9a7b597a40e09fd066895b32f852/att-bryta-ett-

valdsamt-beteende--aterfallsforebyggande-insatser-for-man-som-utsatter-narstaende-for-vald-

sou_2018_37.pdf.

57 Committee Directive Dir. 2019:43.