Domestic abuse
This page has information on where to get help and counseling if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse. It also includes information for those who have committed abuse, a variety of brochures on domestic abuse for individuals and staff, and a special focus on older adults and domestic abuse.
Assistance for victims of violence
Everyone has the right to assistance, and violence is never the fault of the victim.
If you are or have experienced domestic abuse, or if you know of someone who is in that situation, there is help available.
You can always call 112, and you can also get help from various grassroots organizations or social services.
Assistance for perpetrators
Heimilisfriður, a treatment and knowledge center on intimate partner violence, offers treatment to perpetrators of violence in intimate relationships. Heimilisfriður services are subsidized by the government.
Everyone seeking assistance from Heimilisfriður begins with one-on-one interviews.
It is important that the person concerned accepts the assistance voluntarily.
Eldra fólk og ofbeldi
Heimilisofbeldi er ofbeldi á milli skyldra eða tengdra einstaklinga. Skyldir og tengdir einstaklingar eru t.d. núverandi eða fyrrverandi makar, börn, systkini og foreldrar.
Heimilisofbeldi gegn eldra fólki á sér margar birtingarmyndir. Sem dæmi getur ofbeldið verið andlegt, líkamlegt, kynferðislegt og fjárhagslegt en það getur einnig verið um vanrækslu að ræða.
What is violence?
Domestic abuse can take many forms.
Below is information about its main manifestations.
- Physical violence: E.g. punching, hitting, kicking, pushing.
- Psychological violence: E.g. threaten, shame, intimidate, humiliate, control.
- Sexual abuse: For example, rape or sexual harassment. When people with disabilities are involved, this also applies to activities that a person with disabilities has not/could not accept due to impairment or was coerced into accepting.
- Financial abuse: Funds withheld from people/used inconsistent with an individual's will.
- Material abuse: Property ownership not respected, things destroyed.
- Negligence: Assistance withheld from the person concerned, medication not properly attended to, etc.
- Chase or threaten: Chasing a person and ambushing them against their will - a stalker. Threats of posting nude photos on the Internet – revenge porn.
- Violence involving discrimination: Violence and harassment targeting, for example, the person's origin, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, impairment or other status of the person.
- Digital violence: When technology such as phone, email or social media is used to commit violence. This can include constantly sending messages over the phone, posting nude photos of the person in his/her unwillingness or if the perpetrator sends unsolicited nude photos of themselves.
- Honor-related violence: Violence carried out in the name of "honor".
- Forced marriage: Marriage in which one or both parties are coerced into.
- Female genital mutilation: Partial or total removal of the genitals of a girl or a woman.
Employees and domestic abuse
Here is information for employees who experience domestic abuse, outlining the assistance available from their employer. There are also guidelines for coworkers on how to best respond if they notice a colleague is experiencing abuse.
Contact us
You can reach out to Halldóra Dýrleif Gunnarsdóttir, Project Manager for Together Against Violence, if you'd like to learn more.
Human Rights Office
Reykjavík City Hall
Tjarnargata 11, 101 Reykjavík
