Let’s take action on domestic abuse

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

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.

Tell someone

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 services.

Make a complaint, get the abuse recorded

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 evidence

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.).

Legal steps

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.

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.

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.

Victims of Criminal Offences Help Association (AVIP)

7 am–10 pm - 7 days a week
Phone: 98 25 00 07
Email adress: 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...