Domestic violence Legal framework Prof. dr. Liesbet Stevens Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Aim → rethink the legal framework with regard to domestic violence Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium

Historic overview  1974: “Scream quietly or the neighbours will hear” (Erin Pizzey)  1977: first Belgian women’s shelter  1990: state recognition and funding  1997: criminal law reform  2003: civil law reform & criminal procedural law reform Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium

Domestic violence  ‘violence’ physical sexual psychological  ‘domestic’ ≠ in the house  perpetrator = man; victim = woman? Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium

Ideal legal framework  provides safety ( ≈ police)  provides justice ( ≈ courts) Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium

Safety  rethinking professional secrecy  not requiring the victim’s formal complaint to intervene  removing the perpetrator  restraining contact  victim protection (≈ witness protection)  judicial counselling obligatory for perpetrator Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium

Justice  domestic violence is considered a crime a ground for a demand for relief compensation of damages other reliefs a ground for divorce Prof. dr. L. Stevens, 28 th February 2011, Leuven, Belgium