Domestic Violence: Government Announces Reform

Ten women have been killed since January 2025, seven of whom had reported threats or violence to the authorities. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 6,478 recorded cases of domestic or intimate partner violence.

In light of these alarming statistics, the Minister for Gender Equality, Arianne Navarre-Marie, announced on Tuesday, April 14, at the National Assembly, a significant legislative reform in response to a query from opposition leader Joe Lesjongard. The government plans to repeal the Protection from Domestic Violence Act and replace it with a Domestic Abuse Bill within a month. "We are currently validating it," she stated. The new legislation expands the definition of domestic violence to include non-cohabiting partners and blended family structures, explicitly recognizing four forms of abuse: physical, sexual, psychological, and financial. "A woman whose partner controls all her income is a victim just as much as one who is physically assaulted," asserted the minister.

The proposal introduces a mandatory reporting clause for all professionals – doctors, teachers, social workers – who suspect acts of violence. It establishes a Protection Notice that the police can issue for reported cases at night or on weekends without waiting for a formal order. "A victim in danger should not have to wait weeks to obtain a Protection Order," emphasized Arianne Navarre-Marie. Judicial procedures will be expedited, with enhanced emergency protection measures.

Victim Safety

Enforcement Officers will now be able to file for orders on behalf of victims. Police will accompany victims to their homes to retrieve their belongings. Victims can file complaints at any police station, regardless of where the incident occurred. Mandatory rehabilitation programs will be imposed on perpetrators of violence. "The safety of victims remains our top priority," the minister stated.

Amendments to the Penal Code regarding femicide will also be introduced. The minister referenced the analytical framework of the 2025 report by the National Human Rights Commission, which describes femicide as "the fatal endpoint of an escalation of gender-based violence, typically preceded by coercive control, psychological abuse, threats, isolation, and repeated violence."

The government reports actions already taken in 2025: 119 awareness campaigns reaching 4,450 people, including 3,309 women and 1,141 men. A five-day multisectoral training was organized in partnership with UNFPA focusing on survivor-centered responses to violence, with participation from 50 representatives of various organizations. Thirty-five agents and twenty senior police officers have been trained to improve their response to domestic violence and enhance risk assessments.

The ministry has also launched the Parental Strength Circle project, a program of parenting sessions aimed at preventing risky situations, and intensified coordination among family support services, the Family Protection Brigade, social services, and NGOs. "Domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a crime. It will no longer be tolerated, minimized, or ignored," concluded the minister.

Over 1,800 cases were reported to Family Support Services from January to March 2026.