Parental partner violence: better protection for affected children
A new study commissioned by the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) and the Swiss Conference against Domestic Violence sheds light on the situation of children affected by violence in parental relationships. Specific recommendations show how existing gaps in support services can be closed and how the protection of affected children in Switzerland can be improved.
Every year, around 27,000 children in Switzerland experience intimate partner violence. These children witness violence between their parents and are therefore permanently exposed to a climate of fear. This has a negative impact on their physical and mental health, but also on their educational and social development.
The new study ‘Support services and protective measures for children exposed to violence in parental relationships' takes stock and formulates recommendations to improve the situation for affected children in Switzerland. The study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the University of Fribourg and the HES-SO School of Social Work is published by the FOGE and the Swiss Conference against Domestic Violence.