“They somehow cannot protect the victim in a timely manner, and therefore, these protection and coercion measures against aggressors should be taken quickly,” said Daniel Cotrim of APAV, in response to a report on Portugal by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), released today.
The report acknowledges some progress made by Portugal in this area but highlights several shortcomings, including the need for mandatory training for judges to combat “lenient and disproportionate penalties” in cases of domestic and sexual violence.
When questioned, Daniel Cotrim pointed out that the number of domestic violence complaints is disproportionate to the sentences and convictions: “Given the high number of domestic violence complaints, [APAV questions] why the number of sentences is usually very low or result in suspended sentences.”
“We know that the rates of incidence and recidivism are extremely high and that taking measures such as holding aggressors accountable and punishing them is essential for society to understand that domestic violence is not a tolerable crime,” he stated.
The official added that on its own, “punishment will not decrease or change behavior,” but it “obviously sends an important message.”
Regarding the need for judges’ education on the various types of violence against women, Cotrim considers it crucial, noting that Portuguese justice is “still very influenced by patriarchal, macho standards” with “a very traditional view of the family.”
“Domestic violence, despite being a crime, as it occurs in an intimate dynamic, can still be viewed more or less leniently,” the official explained. “It’s as if it were a type of family life consequence that might be resolved by other means. But we know perfectly well that this is not the case, just look at the data on domestic violence complaints in Portugal and, of course, the number of homicides in the context of domestic violence.”
The experts also stress the need for continuous specialized support measures, such as a national hotline dedicated to women victims of all forms of violence, operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On this point, the APAV representative noted that the State has a 24-hour line but “cannot effectively respond to domestic violence situations because they don’t happen between 09:00 and 17:00.”
“It should operate almost like a network. We should not rely solely on the police forces but also on support organizations, allowing them to intervene and have the cooperation of courts and health services,” he said.
Regarding the lack of shelter spaces highlighted by experts, Cotrim acknowledged that these structures are “important and should be seen as a response to emergencies,” while emphasizing that the priority is the swift application of measures to avoid needing to remove victims from their homes.
