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Final Report on National Campaign action carried out within the framework of 1. Legal and policy measures The chapter on sexual violence in the general penal code was amended by an act passed on March 17, 2007. The statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children was changed, so that the limitation period for lesser crimes would not begin until the child reached 18 years of age, and the limitation period for the most serious sexual crimes against children was abolished. The definition of rape was extended and sexual harassment was more clearly defined than previously. Also, the maximum and minimum penalty for the various sexual crimes was raised. Finally, the ban against prostitution for own upkeep was lifted. Both the buying and selling of sexual services is now legal, although it is still illegal for a third party to profit from prostitution. There has not been a new legislation on domestic violence adopted in Iceland during the campaign period. However, the Icelandic Parliament passed in April 2006 an amendment to the penal code which provided for an increased punishment if violence was directed against a man, woman or child closely related to the perpetrator and their family ties were believed to have aggravated the violence of the act. Also, a new provision was added to the chapter dealing with defamation and violations against the sanctity of private life, stating that if a person offended his/her spouse or former spouse, child or other individual closely related to the perpetrator, in such a way that it could be considered a gross dishonour, then he or she should be subject to a prison sentence of up to two years. 2. Support and protection for victims Under the 2006-2011 plan of action to deal with domestic and sexual violence against women, the National University Hospital authorities are meant to produce proposals on how to strengthen the rape crisis centre and the general crisis centre at the hospital, and how to increase the scope of the services so that they can also help the victims of domestic violence. Hospital authorities also are asked to investigate methods of promoting more efficient collaboration with social welfare authorities, primary health clinics, NGOs and other parties involved with the victims of gender-based violence. 3. Data collection Data collection on the incidence of violence against women, including domestic violence, is currently limited in Iceland. The national action plan 2006-2001 states that Statistics Iceland should make regular collections of statistical data relating to gender-based violence. Furthermore, the plan states that this data should be supplied by primary healthcare/healthcare facilities, the social affairs authorities, the police, the prosecution services and, as appropriate, other public bodies. In addition, the plan calls for the study of the scale and nature of gender-based violence in Iceland, with a view to establishing how common it is and what measures should be taken to deal with it. Particular attention should be given to comparisons with other countries. 4. Awareness Raising There was an awareness raising campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, developed within the framework of the Council of Europe Campaign, on the municipal level. The campaign included an Icelandic version of the Council of Europe poster campaign against domestic violence. However, no such campaign was carried out at the state level during the course of the Council of Europe campaign. The national action plan against domestic and sexual violence calls for an awareness raising campaign concerning domestic violence. According to the plan, the campaign should have been carried out in 2007. It was envisaged that posters with information about domestic violence would be produced, distributed and displayed as widely as possible. The posters should be produced in Icelandic and also in various other languages, with information on the nature of domestic violence in all its forms (mental cruelty, physical violence or sexual abuse). They should also contain information on where victims can turn for support and advice. National Plan of Action The first national plan of action to combat domestic and sexual violence against women and children in Iceland was passed in 2006 and will be in effect until 2011. In 2007, the action plan was divided into two plans, one focusing on women and one focusing on children. The plan emphasizes the prevention of domestic and sexual violence and the treatment of both victims and perpetrators of violence. Education of health care professionals, social workers, teachers and the police is also prioritized, along with general education of the public concerning domestic and sexual violence. The action plan focuses on data gathering as an important tool in the fight against violence against women. The Icelandic Statistics Bureau has been given the task to gather on a regular basis statistics from health care providers, social authorities, police, prosecutors and other public authorities. The Icelandic plan also emphasizes the protection of victims of gender based violence and awareness raising. Assessment of the impact of the Council of Europe Campaign 1. Is any and every act of violence against women criminalised in your country? YES q NO x
2. Is violence committed by a partner or former partner punished more severely than violence among strangers (eg. gender based violence as such or the abuse of power will be considered an aggravating circumstance)? YES x NO q
3. Are victims enabled to seek justice in a human manner (eg. specialised courts on domestic violence, specialised units within the police, the public prosecutor or the judiciary)? YES x NO q
4. Does a national emergency 24/7 help-line exist free of charge for victims of domestic violence in your country? YES x NO q 5. Have safe shelters been set up for victims of domestic violence in an adequate ratio in your member state? YES q NO x
6. Is administrative data being collected on victims of domestic violence? YES q NO x 7. Is domestic violence considered as a human rights violation to be addressed in your legal system? YES q NO x |
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