On 26 September, the Swiss Federal Council adopted its second state report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, focusing on developments since 2021. The report provides detailed information on prevention, protection, and prosecution measures, highlighting new trends in Switzerland and data from the past two years. Violence against women and domestic violence remain serious issues in the country. On average, one woman dies every two weeks due to such violence, and femicide rates have been notably high in 2025. In 2024, Swiss police recorded 21,127 domestic violence offences, a 6% increase from the previous year, with women comprising nearly 70% of victims. Children are also particularly vulnerable within these environments.
The Federal Council considers the fight against domestic violence and violence against women a national priority. Since ratifying the Istanbul Convention in 2018, Switzerland has committed to strengthening preventive measures, ensuring protection for all victims, and improving the prosecution of these crimes. As part of its obligations under the Convention, Switzerland submits periodic state reports to the Council of Europe to demonstrate progress. The first report was submitted in 2021, and the second report also includes responses to recommendations made by the Committee of the Parties and the Group of Experts on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) in 2022.
Since 2022, Switzerland has strengthened prevention and protection mechanisms following the recommendations from the first report. The Federal Council adopted the National Action Plan 2022–2026 for implementing the Istanbul Convention, and an interim report was published in November 2024 during the first National Dialogue on Violence, Gender, and Discrimination. Minimum standards for the initial and ongoing training of professional groups have been developed to address gender-based, sexual, and domestic violence. Cantons have introduced various measures, particularly in schools, to tackle the root causes of violence.
Legislative changes have also been implemented, including revisions to the criminal law on sexual offences, civil measures against child marriage, adjustments to residence rights for victims of domestic violence, and the inclusion of a specific provision criminalising stalking in the Swiss Criminal Code. The report highlights emerging trends, notably the growing recognition of digital forms of violence as a central component of domestic abuse.
Ongoing collaboration between the federal government, cantons, communes, and civil society is crucial for preventing and combating violence. Planned initiatives include Switzerland’s first national prevention campaign against domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence in November, the launch of a three-digit victim support telephone number in May 2026, and the country’s first national prevalence survey of violence in 2027.
Switzerland’s second state report will serve as the basis for GREVIO’s monitoring activities. The independent expert group will review the report, visit the country in March 2026, and issue new recommendations by the end of that year.
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