SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal description
« […] women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. […]»
Swiss target 5.2: All forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, are curbed.
Significance of the indicator
The indicator shows the number of victims of serious physical violence (murder, attempted murder with serious bodily harm, serious bodily harm) in the domestic context recorded by the police. Physical safety and a sense of security are basic needs of society. Domestic violence and its most common manifestation, intimate partner violence, cause a great deal of human suffering as they affect people connected by family or emotional ties. A reduction in this indicator is therefore a step towards sustainable development.
Help for interpretation
In such cases of serious physical violence, reporting behaviour has little bearing on the number of cases recorded; in the event of death or if the victim needs hospital treatment, it is very likely that the police will be informed of the offence committed.
A large portion of domestic violence cases concern less serious offences (e.g. assaults, threats, actual bodily harm) that nevertheless cause a great deal of suffering. As the decision to report such offences varies greatly from one case to the other, the level of hidden crime is high.
International comparability
This indicator cannot be compared at international level.
Synthesis
By sex
Comments: due to the relatively small number of cases and the high variability, this indicator cannot be assessed.
According to the social justice and equality of opportunity principles, gender equality is a key component of sustainable development. For this reason, this indicator is also presented with a distinction made between men and women.
Tables
Methodology
This indicator shows the number of victims of serious physical violence in the domestic context. It refers to the number of victims recorded by the police. In accordance with the Swiss Criminal Code, this includes murder/manslaughter (Art. 111–113), attempted murder with serious assault (Art. 111–116), inciting and assisting suicide (Art. 115) resulting in death or serious assault, and serious assault (Art. 122). A unique identification number is attributed to each victim, which allows victims of several crimes to be identified as the same person. This allows effective counting, which means that each victim is only counted once per year. Cases of serious assault are very likely to be reported to the police. The behaviour of victims – and their propensity to report a crime – has little influence on the number of cases recorded. This number is relatively low and subject to fluctuation. Victim behaviour plays a more important role in cases of medium-intensity physical violence and psychological violence (such as threats and blackmail).
The data are collected as part of the police crime statistics published by the Federal Statistical Office in collaboration with the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors.
Links
Targets
Swiss target 5.2: All forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, are curbed.
International target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Environment, Sustainable Development, TerritoryEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 460 58 46
Monday - Friday:
09.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 16.00