Stop violence against women: New report highlights the need for risk assessment to protect women from violence

The Expert group to combat violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) has published its 5th overall report on activities for 2023, presenting the main achievements of its work and including a thematic section on “the role and importance of risk assessment and risk management in preventing and combating violence against women“.

This report emphasizes the importance of improving training for authorities to better deal with various forms of violence, including psychological and digital manifestations of violence. GREVIO monitoring in 2023 also found that separation from a violent partner can increase the risk to children. It is therefore important to incorporate dynamic risk assessments into care and handling procedures. These procedures can be used to perpetuate abuse after separation, including through abuse lawsuits. A better understanding of post-breakup violence is therefore essential to ensure the safety of victims.

During last year’s reporting period, GREVIO published seven baseline assessment reports (Luxembourg, Croatia, North Macedonia, Ireland, Greece, Moldova and Liechtenstein). In addition, the first thematic evaluation visits on “Building trust through providing support, protection and justice” were carried out and the Istanbul Convention was ratified by the European Union.

The thematic section deals with “the role and importance of risk assessment and risk management in preventing and combating violence against women”. Risk assessment is an important mechanism that enables national authorities to prevent human rights violations, particularly domestic violence and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affect women and girls. Risk assessment helps protect fundamental rights such as the right to life and physical safety. Article 51 of the Istanbul Convention emphasizes the importance of this assessment, complemented by Articles 52 and 53 on protective and interim orders and Article 31 on custody of children.

The GREVIO evaluation reports recommend greater training for authorities on the various forms of violence, including psychological violence and digital forms of violence. They also point out that separation from a violent partner can increase risks to children, which is why it is important to incorporate dynamic risk assessments into custody and access procedures. These processes can be used to perpetuate abuse after separation, including through abuse lawsuits. A better understanding of post-breakup violence is therefore essential to ensure the safety of victims.

A link is made to the European Court of Human Rights, whose jurisprudence requires the contracting parties to take preventive measures against domestic violence by assessing the real and immediate risks to life and physical integrity. The focus is on the need to recognize the possible recurrence of acts of violence within the family, beyond the general protection of a vulnerable person.