Protection from femicide must not fail for lack of money or time.
Every two weeks, a woman is killed in Switzerland, usually by her partner or ex‑partner and often after years of threats and violence. The warning signs are often known. Yet there is a lack of safe shelters, funding, and clear responsibilities to prevent the crime.
Problem
- In Switzerland, on average, a woman dies from the consequences of domestic violence every two weeks.
- The number of homicide offenses in the domestic sphere rose in 2025 from 26 to 34 cases, and in just under three quarters of them the victims were women.
- The attempted murders in the domestic setting increased in 2025 from 50 to 59 cases.
- Because femicides are not a separate category in the official crime statistics, the known figures come from research by private organizations and were at least 27 cases in 2025.
- After a femicide, the case is not processed across agencies, which means it remains unknown which warning signals were reported and where protection failed.
Solution
- Each canton finances the operation of its women's shelters with a fixed annual amount that covers all basic costs, including salaries.
- The federal government definitively determines how many protection places per population must be available, and sets a deadline for the cantons with an annual reporting requirement.
- The canton of residence automatically covers the costs of a stay at a nationwide uniform rate, regardless of which canton protection is granted.
- A nationwide site displays available shelters in real time and directs every person who must be turned away directly to an available house.
- There are enough places for wheelchair-accessible and care-needing individuals in women's shelters.
Benefit
- A guaranteed safe place and an instantly triggered warning work precisely in the separation phase, when the risk is highest.
- No affected person loses their protection any longer because two administrations are negotiating over a daily rate.
- Where the operation is funded with a fixed amount, billing with dozens of municipalities is eliminated, and the staff gains this time for counseling.
- The restriction targets the violent person, so that those affected do not have to give up their home, work, and surroundings to be safe.
- Verstösse gegen Kontaktverbote werden nachweisbar, was Verbote glaubwürdig macht und Verfahren beschleunigt.
Public support
Total votes: 48
Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 43, SoundsGood: 2, Concerns: 2, NoChance: 1
Discussion
- A. G. (2026-09-02): Beim Schutz vor Femiziden und häuslicher Gewalt besteht dringender Handlungsbedarf in der Schweiz. Wichtiges und unterstützenswertes Anliegen!
- M. K. (2026-08-26): The current budget for these issues is simply ridiculous. Something has to happen here, otherwise it's a testament to poverty for Switzerland. I'm looking forward to making a difference with PLURAL!