The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Violence against Women (GREVIO) has today published its first report evaluating Liechtenstein’s implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (known as the “Istanbul Convention”).
The report highlights a series of positive measures taken by the authorities in recent years in order to criminalise domestic violence and non-consensual sexual relations, reduce secondary victimisation in the justice sector and protect child victims in all proceedings.
It also welcomes the support provided by general services and specialist NGOs to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women, including sufficient places in the women’s shelter. The report notes the efforts made to raise awareness and train professional groups, such as the police.
At the same time, GREVIO has identified a number of issues where improvement is needed in Liechtenstein to enhance compliance with the convention.
Liechtenstein currently has no strategic framework to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. In addition, there is no dedicated women’s helpline.
Government measures are focusing on domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment and stalking, but have paid little or no attention to less prevalent forms of violence, such as female genital mutilation, forced marriage and “honour”-based violence. The rights and needs of women at risk, or subject to, intersectional discrimination should be addressed in future laws, measures and policies, and access to services and information should be improved, in particular for migrant women, women with disabilities and LBTI women.
Liechtenstein is also lagging behind in the area of data collection, in particular in the justice sector where there are no data available on the number of convictions in this area, on the sentences handed down and on whether the sentences imposed on perpetrators are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
In addition, police barring orders and protection orders should be used more frequently to better protect women victims of domestic violence and their children and to send a strong signal of zero tolerance.
In conclusion, GREVIO underlines that it is necessary to bridge the gap between the strong legal framework and the practices on the ground.
The report published today covers the period up until 26 October 2023.
