“Maria”, “Kristina” and “Emilie” say that they have been subjected to violence by an ex -boyfriend. In only one of the cases, the ex was convicted of violence. The women believe that what happens after the violence is like a new betrayal. They feel forgotten and neglected. Read their stories a little further down. Lawyer Gunhild Vehushiaia is very concerned about this problem. – Victims are not heard. The concern they come up with, they feel that they are neglected, and that they are almost perceived as owl sets, simply, by the system. She has been a lawyer for many violence, and says that many of them feel that they are not taken seriously. Vehusheia thinks we must turn the way we think about punishment. Photo: Tom Ivar Øverlie / news She also points to what she believes are major errors and basic deficiencies in the system that will protect violent. – Many people are not looking for those who have subjected them to violence to be punished. They are not looking for compensation, but they want peace and quiet. They want the opportunity to live a life on without fear, she says. – And then we have no system that is rigged for it at all. Feeling failed by the system in the work on the case of Karoline, who has an ex who was convicted of bodily violations against her, news has been in contact with dozens of women who say they are exposed to violence by a partner. These are three of them: “Mary”, according to Maria, subjected her ex to violence, but she did not dare to report. – It took some time before I realized what I had been through. I was told that he wanted to know that I had reported, and I could not leave an anonymous notice on him, because then the police would be forced to create a review. Maria had few evidence. They were vague and difficult to interpret. She felt confident that the case would be closed. – What I wish is that I could leave the police. Now I just have to keep track of whether any news stories about a man of a certain age in my area. “Emilie” Emilie documented the violence the ex -boyfriend exposed her to pictures of the injuries. In a hidden note on her cellphone, she wrote a diary. – I did not do it to report, but to assess whether to look up or not. When the ex got a new girlfriend, which he must have been violent against, she decided to go to the police. In and with Emilie and he was not cohabitants, the man was only convicted of bodily harm. And then there should be more knowledge about mental violence, because that’s what is most scary. The one you are unable to prove. “Kristina” Kristina says the ex, who is the father of her children, subjected her to violence for several years. – I was convinced that I had to stay, for the kids’ part. A psychologist got her on other thoughts, and must have said that she should leave the relationship because of the children. Kristina never reported, because of the lack of evidence. But she told child welfare and family protection offices. There she did not feel met. – There are not so many, except for the crisis centers, who take one seriously. It is very important to have a network that helps women in such situations. Help them out of the relationship. Help them get a home. Believes the system facilitates new offenses Gunhild Vehusheia points to several challenges she believes are included with today’s system: There is no one who follows up the victims of violence all the way from review and to the time after a trial. Thus, many are left to themselves – especially after trial or closure. If the police encode the case for, for example, bodily harm, the victim loses the right to a free assistant attorney. In cases of joint children, both parents can call mediation every six months until the child turns 18. This also applies to a parent who has been accused or convicted of violence. This means that the victim risks having to meet the perpetrator twice a year for many years. In this way, the system facilitates new offenses, she believes. A visitor ban lasts for three months at a time. Vehusheia thinks this is too short. She also believes that the ban on visits should apply to specific areas, rather than the person. It is too difficult to get a ban on visits and violence, says the lawyer. She thinks the police should more easily provide protective measures, even without a review. The lawyer says that the legislation on violence in close relationships is primarily rigged to punish the perpetrator – not also to protect the victim. Gunhild Vehusheia sees several errors and deficiencies in the system around the protection of violence. Photo: Tom Ivar Øverlie / news Little follow -up A concrete measure Vehushheia is demanding, is someone who follows up the victims of violence throughout the race: From the break out of the relationship, until everything has stabilized after a closure or trial. The task of an assistance lawyer is to follow the client through the review and legal process. Many victims have more needs than just that, she says. – Most major crisis centers have such a big increase that they are only an emergency service. Some of the smaller ones have the opportunity to follow you up for a long time, so you can get back there and have conversations. It should really be legislative that you had a place to contact. Today, the vulnerators have no right to receive support and guidance. – The only place where a violent gets time to explain its whole story is to the police when you submit a review. But the problem is that it is not the police who are there afterwards and will protect them, says Vehushheia. The funds The police have a ban on visits and violence alarms. For most people, the violence alarm is like a small phone you have with you and can press if you feel threatened. – It doesn’t give any real security, really, she thinks. – Make impressions Joakim Sevrin Tranvåg Øren (Ap) is the secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice. He says he is upset by hearing personal experiences with partner violence. – When we say that we want everyone in Norway to feel safe, it does not apply when you are in your own home and when you are among those closest. We as a society need to be better at preventing and averting this type of crime, says Øren. Joakim Sevrin Tranvåg Øren (Ap) is secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice. Photo: Tom Ivar Øverlie He thinks the most important thing to do is to prevent violence in close relationships. – We have strengthened the police budget so that the police are able to do the tasks they are going to. Prevention and investigation of violence in close relationships is such a task, which is given high priority. In addition, the government came up with an escalation plan against violence and abuse against children and violence in close relationships in December 2023, with over 120 different measures. It will facilitate a more holistic and coordinated efforts against violence and abuse. – It applies to prevention, being able to help and protect victims, effective prosecution, but also to follow up those who exercise the violence to make sure that it does not happen again, which is also a form of prevention, says Øren. – Have it in the mouth, but not in the legs Øren gets answers from parliamentary representative Andreas Sjalg Unneland, who sits on the Justice Committee for SV. He believes that too much time is spent discussing crime that applies to a few, while one in ten experiences violence in close relationships. – It really gets very little attention to, for example, youth crime. According to the police, there are talk of about 200 people nationwide that they are particularly concerned about, he says. In comparison, more than 1 in 10 women have been subjected to severe physical violence by their partner. Andreas Sjalg Unneland says he is open to all good suggestions, no matter what party they come from. Photo: Tom Ivar Øverlie / news Unneland believes that there are large holes in the system in terms of partner violence. Like the Secretary of State, he points to the escalation plan as an important measure, but he also thinks it can be done more. – And we see that the politicians say this is important, but then we do not follow up with measures. Knowically, politicians are in the mouth, he says. One of the things Unneland wants in place is a support offer that follows the victims of violence all the way from crisis center to after trial, as lawyer Vehushiaia also suggests. – Now we propose it for the rape receptions, but it would also be natural in the other entrances to the auxiliary system, such as the crisis centers. People have no idea where to go, what help they can get and what offers are available. Therefore, we must have a scheme that ensures that a resource person helps them through the system. It is also important to put in place a legal requirement that states that all municipalities should have an action plan against violence in close relationships, says Unneland. – I think this is the biggest crime challenge we have as a society. And that’s where the frustration of how little attention it gets in relation to how big a problem it is. I am always ready to discuss all types of suggestions that can improve that situation. – Does not mean that you are not believed Vehusheia she wants a committee that looks at how to attach rights that society should protect against violations. – We have some idea that punishment itself is so preventative that it is sufficient to protect. We have to get away from that, she says. – I think there are an incredible number of good protective measures around the rest of Europe that we could probably learn from. Vehushheia wants a selection to be set up to focus specifically on protection. Photo: Tom Ivar Øverlie / news Secretary of State Øren points out that the Partner Kill Commission should now review all partner killings in Norway, and look at whether there has been some form of system failure. – The whole point of that is to be able to prevent both serious partner violence and partner killings. Øren says he fully understands that those who have reported a case and have been dropped may feel that there was no point in reporting. – But to that I would say that a case is closed does not mean that you are not believed. There are strict evidence requirements, and it is not always possible to provide sufficient grounds for a criminal case to be raised. However, it is important that the person who is exposed to violence contacts the police or the aid system, then the possibility of getting the necessary assistance opens. Published 10.05.2025, at. 21.54
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