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: 68
Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 62, SoundsGood: 2, Concerns: 2, NoChance: 1, NeedForDiscussion: 1
Discussion
- R. R. (2026-09-12): Der Handlungsbedarf ist klar gegeben. Was ich mir wünschen würde ist jedoch, dass Prävention früher beginnt. Und zwar durch einen Lernzyklus. Wenn Frauenhäuser / Fussfesseln gebraucht werden, ist dies die letzte und wichtige Massnahme. Aber wissen wir, weshalb jemand überhaupt gewalttätig wird? Lernen wir daraus? Könnte man schon früher das Potential erkennen? Was sind die Motive? Diese Fragen sollte ein höheres Gewicht beigemessen werden. Wie wenn man Kriminalität mit noch mehr Polizei verhindern möchte. Ja, die Polizei ist wichtig. Aber Kinder werden nicht als kriminelle geboren. Genau so wenig glaube ich, werden Menschen als Mörder geboren, mal schwere Gehirnschäden ausgenommen. Daher fände ich parallel zur Verhinderung bei konkreter Gefahr sinnvolle Massnahmen, um die Gefährdung langfristig zu grossen Teilen gar nicht erst Realität werden zu lassen, sinnvoll. Rein Bildung wird das nicht schaffen. Z.b. konkrete Trigger könnten identifiziert werden durch Nachuntersuchungen.
- 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!