Netherlands must better recognise role of gender in domestic violence, expert body says.

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The Netherlands’ system of legal and policy protection of women against domestic violence has been the target of warnings by the Council of Europe’s expert group on violence against women (GREVIO). In its most recent report, GREVIO lauded the Netherlands’ efforts to implement the Convention in recent years, but warned that significant changes need to be made in order to better recognise the way in which domestic violence disproportionately affects women.

The thematic reports analyses the implementation of selected provisions in areas of prevention, protection and support, substantive law, prosecution and procedural law, protective measures. It has identified positive trends, but also areas of improvement.

Among its positive evaluations, the report includes measures devoted to the harmonisation between Dutch criminal law and the Istanbul Convention, as well as the adoption of national action plans tackling various forms of violence against women, like sexual violence and femicide. The report also praises the Netherlands’ efforts in preventing sexual violence and harassment in the sports field. An increase in funding, awareness-raising activities and preventive measures are also among the country’s positive achievements.

On the other hand, the report singles out critical gaps and areas of improvement. These considerations open with the recognition that the number of women killed by partners or relatives remains “persistently high”. Some data from the Gender Equality Index, provided by the European Institute for Gender Equality, help to shed light on the issue: 41% of women in the Netherlands have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, compared to the EU average of 31%.

One aspect of improvement concerns the definition of domestic violence. GREVIO urged the country to better include a gendered understanding of domestic violence and the way it disproportionately affects women. It denounced how, in the name of equality, some policies are inadequately gender neutral, underlining that this overzealousness in guaranteeing formal equality risks jeopardising the substantial power of these policies to protect women. Furthermore, the Dutch definition of domestic violence risks being so general it cannot address issues of gendered power dynamics; GREVIO urges the country to provide interpretation and guidance tools in order to make the definition effectively operational.

Another issue brought up by GREVIO is the need to provide for more shelters for victims of domestic violence. In particular, GREVIO urges to increase the number and capacity of shelters and ensure that they are well equipped and prepared to cater for women at risk of overlapping forms of discrimination, like disabled women and women without a residence permit.

The Dutch government has shown receptiveness and positively responded to GREVIO’s comments, affirming that GREVIO’s recommendations offer “valuable starting points for critically reflecting on the Dutch approach and for achieving further improvements in the protection of women and other victims of domestic violence”. A spokesperson for the Health ministry has declared that they are set to publish a detailed policy response soon.

written by Alessia Milillo