The Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) reported approximately 15,000 domestic violence cases in the first half of this year, marking a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Role And Efforts Of APAV
Between January and July 2024, these 15,000 cases accounted for 78% of the processes handled by APAV during this period. This represents the vast majority of APAV’s cases, emphasized Daniel Cotrim, the head of APAV’s domestic and gender violence sector.
Daniel Cotrim addressed the media in the context of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually on November 25th.
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The rise in these crimes, which impact women, men, and children, can be attributed to APAV’s efforts to expand its reach, according to Daniel Cotrim. He explained that the organization has increased the number of awareness campaigns and introduced more services to connect with people, including mobile units that visit municipalities and towns typically lacking such support services.
He argued:
The closer these support services are to communities, the easier it is for people to report issues
Domestic Violence Statistics For 2023
According to APAV’s 2023 statistical data, the organization supported 31,117 victims of domestic violence and recorded 64,899 domestic violence cases.
Approximately 48percent of the individuals who reached out to APAV for assistance regarding abuse did independently while 46percent lodged a report, with the Public Security Police.
In 2023, the majority of users (25,240) were female victims, while most of the perpetrators (21,498) were male.
Most of the individuals affected (23 919 people to be specific) were citizens;, with a portion (approximately 62%) experiencing the attacks, within their own homes where they resided alongside the assailant.
In 2023, there were 16,952 cases of victims experiencing continued victimization, including 4,895 cases where victims had been subjected to abuse for between two and six years.
Domestic Violence Homicides In 2024
The recent information, from the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CCGE) indicates that there have been 18 cases of homicide reported from January to September 2024;, out of these incidents. 15 Involved women and 3 involved men.
During the three months of this year nine individuals passed away (comprising eight females and one male) showcasing a rise of three casualties, in comparison, to the timeframe in 2023.
In the spring of 2024s quarter witnessed the tragic loss of three lives. Two women and one man fell victim to violence.
In the summer of 2024s quarter there were six deaths. Five women and one man passed away during that time period.
Data on crimes committed in the context of domestic violence, including homicides, are collected by the Judicial Police, PSP, GNR, Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services, and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), which coordinates the National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence.
As of November 15, the Observatory of Murdered Women from the Alternative and Response Women’s Union (UMAR) reported 25 women murdered in Portugal since the beginning of the year, including 20 femicides.
Crimes Increase During Christmas And New Year
APAV also warns that homicide cases and requests for help related to domestic violence tend to increase during Christmas and New Year, due to the added pressure of the holiday season.
Daniel Cotrim explained that during this time of year:
“There is a lot of pressure for people to be close together. The degree of proximity increases, the pressure also increases and these crimes occur.”
According to the psychologist, the aggressor often tries to convey the idea that they are a family without problems or use the Christmas season as an opportunity to rebuild the relationship.
Reconciliation Pressure And Risk Of Homicide
Daniel Cotrim stated that many of the people murdered, particularly women, were either in the process of separating from their aggressor or had already been separated for some time.
According to Daniel Cotrim, there is often pressure for people to reconcile, make peace, reunite, and rebuild their marital relationship.
He stated:
“In the vast majority of cases, it is not possible, nor is it the victims’ wish, because they have been out of these relationships for some time and in some situations the [crime] situation occurs, it is violent and ends in homicide.”
The Role Of APAV During Holidays
Daniel Cotrim also highlighted that APAV data shows an increase in the number of support requests, particularly in the last quarter of the year.
Furthermore, he said:
“What we know is that there is a greater tendency for violence to escalate, but this is a characteristic of domestic violence. During periods when people are together, in situations of violence or already emerging from them, the festive period, the vacation period, the period when people are together increases the incidence of violence and, in itself, also increases the requests for help.”
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