Melany Nagen, Vice-President of the National Human Rights Council: 'Sustainable change requires a transformation of mindsets'

Melany Nagen, Vice-President of the National Human Rights Council, stated that while laws against domestic violence exist, they are not sufficient to eradicate a phenomenon deeply rooted in societal mindsets and power dynamics. Domestic violence is not just a legal issue; it is a cultural, silent, and socially imbalanced matter. Despite the Protection from Domestic Violence Act and various reforms, many obstacles remain. Domestic violence is often trivialized and seen as a 'private matter', perpetuating a climate of impunity. Fear, economic dependence, and emotional ties still prevent many women from reporting or following through on their complaints.

The support systems for emergency housing, psychological assistance, or legal follow-up are limited and often unsuitable for real-life situations. The lack of coordination among the police, social services, and the courts exacerbates the weaknesses of an overly fragmented system.

The law sets the framework, but sustainable change requires a transformation of mindsets and structures. Education on respect and equality should begin at a young age, public actors need training in gender-sensitive care, and women's economic and psychological autonomy must be strengthened.

The fight against domestic violence is not merely about enforcing rules; it is a societal struggle, a collective effort to restore human dignity at the heart of families and our most intimate relationships.

Survivors often report feeling isolated after leaving an abusive partner. To better support them, as a lawyer specializing in women's rights for over a decade, I believe that the feeling of loneliness after leaving an abusive partner remains one of the most painful blind spots in our system. We talk extensively about the act of leaving, a tremendous act of courage, but too little about the aftermath: the emotional, material, and social void in which many women find themselves abandoned.

Leaving an abusive partner is like escaping an invisible prison. But if there is no support, safety, or listening behind that door, the suffering just shifts. What is needed is comprehensive and ongoing support, beyond the legal framework.

We must rethink post-separation support: a free, accessible, and confidential network for psychological support, provided by professionals trained in gender-based violence. Survivors should be able to speak without fear, in a space where they can rebuild.

Strengthening women's economic independence is equally crucial. Many return to their abuser due to lack of resources, not by choice. The state and private sector must work together to create employment, training, and micro-financing programs dedicated to survivors.

Better coordination among police services, hospitals, judiciary, social services, and NGOs is also essential. No woman should have to tell her story ten times to ten different people.

Finally, societal perceptions need to change. As long as leaving a violent household is viewed as a failure rather than an act of survival and dignity, women will continue to suffer in silence. Supporting a survivor means saying: 'You are not alone. Society believes you, protects you, and stands by you.' Only then does the law come to life, and freedom regains its true meaning.

Domestic violence also affects children. How can we prevent this cycle from beginning at an early age? Domestic violence leaves deep scars on women, but even more so on children who grow up in these toxic environments. Preventing violence from an early age is an investment in a more balanced, just, and humane generation.

A child who sees, hears, or feels violence at home is never just a witness; they become a silent victim. These experiences shape their view of the world, love, and power. Without intervention, they risk replicating what they have experienced, learning violence as a language. To break this cycle, we must act before fear sets in and violence becomes normalized.

Prevention starts at school. From kindergarten, education should include programs on respect, equality, emotional management, and non-violence. Children must understand that to love does not mean to dominate and that expressing anger should never involve fear or force.

Teachers, educators, and social workers must be trained to recognize signs of violence such as anxiety, withdrawal, or aggression, and to intervene sensitively. Too often, these signals go unnoticed. The role of parents is also essential. They should have access to dialogue and support spaces to learn how to communicate non-violently and manage conflicts differently. Positive education should not be a privilege but a national practice encouraged by institutions.

Finally, prevention is a collective responsibility. Media, schools, community leaders, and businesses must participate in building a culture of respect and equality. Preventing violence means teaching our children to love without harming, to communicate without dominating, and to grow without fear. This is where true change begins, in the consciousness of a child who has been protected, listened to, and guided differently.