Together Against Violence - improved procedures and better oversight

Together Against Violence - what has been achieved

Together Against Violence is a collaborative project between Reykjavík City, Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, The Women's Shelter, Primary Care of the Capital Area and District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík.

The conference reviewed what has been accomplished in the fight against domestic abuse since the project began.

Halldóra Dýrleifar Gunnarsdóttir and Marta Kristín Hreiðarsdóttir discussed the benefits of procedures established through the Together Against Violence project and changing attitudes in society.

Partnership between parties is essential

When police receive a call where a child or children are on scene, a child protection worker and center counselor accompany police to the call. Social services and center involvement in calls benefits parents, who now have easier access than before to center services. All children suspected of witnessing violence in their home are offered interviews with a child protection psychologist, as are their parents.

Elfa María Geirsdóttir, social worker, and Guðmundur Ásgeirsson, police officer, also spoke, saying that social services and police on-scene procedures have improved.

Project participants agree that strong partnerships between institutions are essential, and connections with grassroots and university communities are vital. They also stressed that it is crucial for elected representatives to understand domestic abuse, for victims to be heard, and for officials to constantly seek ways to improve.

New legal provisions on domestic abuse

Changes have been made to the General Penal Code, the Act on Restraining Orders and Expulsion from the Home, the Police Act, the Healthcare Practitioners Act, the Law in Respect of Marriage, and the Children Act. These changes include new legal provisions on domestic abuse that consider repetition and severity, stalking—which was not previously a separate offense—and a new provision on sexual autonomy. Divorce can be sought without special cause, and the children's right to be heard during mediation was strengthened, ensuring their views are considered according to age and development.

Increased knowledge - better oversight - improved services

Through increased education, training, and consultation, knowledge of domestic abuse has increased within the city. Healthcare workers have received additional training, and police have adopted new procedures and a quality manual. In 2018, the district commissioner adopted special procedures for victims of violence, which means they are prioritized and can attend divorce process interviews without their spouse. Interpretation services are offered by phone.

The project created better connections and follow-up with women who stay at The Women's Shelter. They report positive experiences with the services and feel safe. Significant progress has also been made in recording domestic abuse cases, where statistical information about calls is collected and published, providing better oversight.

The heart of the project

Kristín Anna Hjálmarsdóttir, a gender studies scholar and independent researcher, conducted an evaluation of the Together Against Violence 2015-2025 project titled "The steering group is the heart of the project." In her conference presentation, she highlighted that new procedures involving cross-system responsibility, knowledge, and decision-making have been crucial. According to the evaluation, the steering group is the core of the collaboration and a prerequisite for continuity and success in this interdisciplinary partnership.

After the presentations, guests were invited to participate in forward-looking workshops that identified areas for improvement across various topics. Discussion topics included children of all ages who abuse parents, domestic abuse affecting LGBT+ people, and domestic abuse affecting the elderly. The suggestions and findings from the working groups will be analyzed.