This year, the days of action against violence against women are focusing on gender-specific violence and disabilities. When violence occurs against these particularly vulnerable people, institutions are faced with particular challenges. Two specific cases illustrate this.
People who are dependent on support, live in institutions or have invisible disabilities: They are all up to four times more likely to be victims of violence than people without disabilities. Chronic illnesses or age-related disabilities also increase the risk of experiencing violence. This includes physical assaults as well as when people are exposed to abuse of power, control or neglect.
Despite this, people with disabilities are missing from the statistics on violence. And they have little access to protection or support. The “16 Days against Violence against Women”, which run from November 25 to December 10, aim to change this. This year, the focus in Switzerland is on women and people with disabilities in general.
Lots of movement thanks to the new specialist department
In the fall of 2024, Opferhilfe beider Basel introduced the new specialist department for violence against people with disabilities. One year later, we can proudly say that a lot has already happened. Our website now has a section in plain language. The victim support flyer and important information on the Victim Support Act and criminal proceedings are now available in plain language. Ruth Bonhôte, who is responsible for this specialist area, has given presentations on the topic, led workshops and networked with numerous institutions.
We were also able to provide counseling for people with cognitive disabilities who have been affected by violence. These cases have once again made us aware of the challenging, complex situations in which these people live and the extent to which institutions are challenged and often overwhelmed when something happens. Two anonymized examples illustrate the challenges.
When an assault is not recognized as such
The prevention and reporting office of an institution for people with disabilities contacts Basel Victim Support. A resident told her that she had met a man on social media some time ago and had subsequently met him. The man had kissed and touched her during this meeting, which she did not want. The Prevention and Reporting Center suspects that sexual assault has occurred and would like to know how Victim Support can support the woman concerned. A counseling appointment is then arranged with the client. The young woman explains that it was not the man she had met on the internet who had come to the meeting, but a much older man. This strange man had taken her to a place that was unknown to her, where sexual acts had taken place.
The young woman’s accounts impressively show how her personal understanding of boundaries, self-determination and defence strategies were exploited by the perpetrator and how she put up with sexual acts without recognizing them as assaults. The counseling session also dealt with the question of whether the young woman wanted to report the abusive man. However, it is much more important for the woman concerned to receive advice on how to deal with boundaries and border violations in the future. Various ways of standing up for herself are discussed during the consultation. The specialist from the residential home who is present takes up the impulses in order to deepen them further in everyday life with the client. In this case, the interaction between the prevention and reporting office, victim support and residential support enabled a good advice and support network to be established for the benefit of the resident.
Advice for professionals
The second example is about a manager of an institution for people with disabilities who calls the victim support service in beider Basel. A resident had told her caregiver the previous evening that she had been raped by a caregiver. The caregiver in question was on night duty the next day. The area manager asks for specialist advice on how his institution should proceed. A victim support counselor advises the head of the department by telephone several times that day and the following day. Topics such as criminal charges, options under employment law and protection of the client concerned and other potential victims are discussed. The aim is always to give the head of department greater clarity regarding his own role and responsibility and that of the institution’s management. In addition to this specialist advice, the client concerned is also offered counseling by Opferhilfe beider Basel. The case shows that we advise people affected by violence as well as their caregivers and professionals.
To press charges or not?
If violence is inflicted on people with disabilities, the support system involved faces major challenges. Particularly when, as in the second example, the violence occurs in an institution itself, challenging questions arise and various aspects need to be taken into account. It is clear that key points regarding the protection of people with disabilities affected by violence have not yet been clarified. One open question is whether an institution should press criminal charges if the accused person is a specialist from the institution but the person affected by violence does not want criminal proceedings. Duties of care, highly personal rights, criminal law and employment law collide here.
It is important to take these different claims of the parties involved in a specific case seriously: those of the person affected, their relatives, the support staff and the specialists. Cases of violence against people with disabilities are often complex, so that a joint discussion by specialists and decision-makers from disability support and victim support is required.
Discover exciting insights and further articles in our blog.
With the interactive exhibition INA, the Limita specialist unit offers a program to prevent the sexual exploitation of young people and adults with cognitive disabilities. Ruth Bonhôte from Opferhilfe beider Basel and Sandra Schlachter from the ESB’s prevention and reporting office explain in an interview what makes the exhibition so valuable in prevention work.
The Limita association is committed to protecting children, young people and people with disabilities from sexual exploitation. Managing Director Yvonne Kneubühler explains why her services are needed, where there is a need for action and why she is not losing confidence despite the slow progress being made.
This year, the prevention campaign “16 days against violence against women” focuses on people with disabilities. Opferhilfe beider Basel has recorded a song with young people with disabilities. The aim is to raise awareness of violence against particularly vulnerable people.
At night and at weekends, the number is operated by Dargebotene Hand beider Basel.
The Dargebotene Hand provides basic counseling and, if necessary, refers the victim to the day service for counseling.
Victim Support beider Basel is available 24/7
Tel: +41 61 205 09 10
