Let’s take action on domestic abuse

INFORMATION

SOCIAL, HEALTH AND FAMILIES

Last updated: 18/11/2024

Violences domestiques - cycle de la violence

Who is affected?

Women and men
Regardless of socio-economic group
Within a family, conjugal or marital relationship, including following separation, even if the couple no longer share a home

What kind of abuse are we referring to?

Physical abuse (hitting, causing injuries, etc.)
Psychological abuse (causing humiliation, isolating, engaging in emotional blackmail)
Sexual abuse (perpetrating non-consensual sexual contact, inciting prostitution)
Verbal abuse (issuing insults or threats)
Economic abuse

Have you experienced domestic abuse?

Whether you’re a victim or a witness, help and information is available::

0 800 91 90 10 (free and anonymous, available 7 am–10 pm, 7 days a week)

In the event of an emergency (24/7)

Police: 17 or 112 / sos-violences@gouv.mc
Emergency Services: 18 or 112
Princess Grace Hospital Emergency Unit: 97 97 97 69

How can you protect yourself and your children?

Act No. 1.382 of 20 July 2011 pertaining to prevention and repression of specific types of violence aims to combat any form of abuse committed within the family or against any vulnerable person.

Don’t face this alone.

You can confide in your friends and family, a health professional, a social worker or a specialist organisation and ask them to make a report or contact the emergency service.

At the Police Department, the officers:

Will acknowledge and listen to you
Will take you to hospital so that you can receive appropriate care and so that your physical and/or psychological injuries can be documented (a medical certificate will be issued and can be kept at the hospital if you wish)
Will refer you to the Victims of Criminal Offences Help Association (AVIP) and offer assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Social Services (DASO)
Will report the incidents to the Public Prosecution Department, which will assess the situation on the basis of the information provided

Since the details are crucial, the police officers will use a questionnaire to help assess the danger that you are in.

Gather any evidence that will help to prove the abuse that you have experienced (text messages, telephone calls, screenshots, complaints, medical certificates, statements from your friends/family and witnesses, etc.).

You can request a protection order and seek legal aid (depending on your financial situation).

The Court of First Instance may also order additional measures, such as:

Prohibiting your (ex-)partner from contacting you and/or your children
Ruling on arrangements for exercising parental rights and contributing to marital expenses

Measures will initially be put in place for two months and can be extended for a further two months on request.

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence.

Have you witnessed domestic abuse?

What should you do?

Silence perpetuates abuse, which is never a private matter.

If there is an imminent danger, you must report – even anonymously – the abuse that you have witnessed, particularly if there are children in the household.

Call the Police but do not take a risk by intervening directly.

If you were present when the incident occurred, tell the Police.

If you suspect that abuse is taking place, you can try to talk to the victim when she is alone and offer your assistance.

Showing the victim understanding and kindness without judgement will always be valuable.

Even if she turns down your support on multiple occasions, knowing that she is not alone, that you are aware of the situation and that you can be of assistance (to listen, help or take her in) is vital.

Professionals are available to listen to you, and offer assistance and support

Department of Social Welfare and Social Services (DASO)

Organised safe place during the day
Medical coverage for you and your children
Psychological support
Financial aid
Food vouchers
Help with administrative procedures (application for legal aid so that your legal fees can be covered by the State, etc.)
Help with budgeting, etc.

PDF509.5 kB

Brochure - Agir contre les violences domestiques

Victims of Criminal Offences Help Association (AVIP)

7 am–10 pm - 7 days a week
Telephone: 98 25 00 07
Email address: avip@monaco.mc

Safe place, including while DASO is closed
Legal assistance
Help with administrative procedures (application for legal aid so that your legal fees can be covered by the State, etc.)
Psychological support...

The violence scale

The Committee to Promote and Safeguard Women’s Rights, with support from the Department of Social Welfare and Social Services and the Department of Education, Youth and Sport, has created "a violence scale". This resource will be used to assess the level of violence encountered within a couple, thus enabling professionals to provide support to victims.

The scale, designed to raise awareness and provide information, is split into three levels: "Calm", "Alert" and "Danger", and covers several types of violence: economic, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse.

It's published as a pocket-sized brochure: