If we look at the SFSO figures, we see that in 2022 and 2023 respectively, 70.2% and 70.1% of injured parties recorded by the police were female.

In 2023, out of 25 homicides recorded in the domestic sphere, 16 women, or 64%, were killed in the context of a couple or family.

Of course, virtually all forms of domestic violence are offences under the Swiss Penal Code, some of which are prosecuted ex officio, others on complaint.

Notwithstanding the possibility of criminal prosecution, these tragedies should be avoided through more effective prevention.

The problem lies in the fact that the violence in question stems from a variety of behaviours and motivations. Prevention must therefore target perpetrators with very different profiles, and be adapted to each sphere concerned.

Take, for example, physical violence (bodily harm, assault, etc.). Some are caused by drug addiction or alcoholism on the part of the spouse. Others stem from absurd ancestral traditions, such as excision.

The same applies to psychological violence. It can take the form of financial blackmail or forced marriage in a non-integrated community.

The difficulty lies in the fact that prevention does not apply the same criteria to a violent man as to a family with criminal or outdated traditions.

In view of the above arguments, I believe that the roadmap signed by the Confederation and the cantons, listing concrete measures to combat domestic violence, should achieve its objectives much more quickly. Indeed, a DFJP memo states that the final assessment of the implementation of the extended roadmap is only expected for 2025 or even 2026!

Remember that the question was not "whether progress is sufficient", but rather "whether progress has been made on the issue of violence against women". And the answer is yes: there have been changes in legislation, reception centres have been created, and there have been campaigns to combat gender-based violence. So we must acknowledge that progress has indeed been made. It is not sufficient, far from it! But it is very real. Now we must continue with this momentum and ensure that these efforts show results in the statistics. But this will take time: we must take into account that this relational paradigm shift will not, simply because it has been enacted by the legislature and other authorities, be immediately "respected" by all perpetrators of this violence. There is urgency, but the chosen path is the right one. We must continue to follow it.