About domestic violence

Domestic violence is violence that a person experiences from the hands of someone who is close, related or connected to them. Victim and perpetrator do not have to live together or be married for the violence to be classified as domestic violence. It can be very difficult to define domestic violence, it is a broad term that is used to describe many different meanings to different people. Domestic violence usually starts as an isolated incident of violence, but then often develops into continuous violence. A home is private and within its walls things can happen that go completely unnoticed by others. Realizing that you or someone else you care about is living in such a situation on their part is a big shock. There is a lot to keep in mind if you feel like you or the people around you have been violated, it is a good idea to seek help from a friend, relative, health care or social services in your municipality. Physical violence is not the only form of domestic violence. It can be mental, sexual, financial and digital violence.

Emotional abuse could be seen in the form of verbal exchange or in the form of body language. The perpetrator often excuses himself by blaming his victims. Emotional abuse is, for example, when the perpetrator screams, calls the victim ugly names and harasses, belittles the victim, isolates the victim from friends and family, and that often ends up with the victim having no one to turn to.

Physical violence is when physical force is used against another person, regardless of whether the victim is physically harmed or not. Physical abuse is also when the person's physical needs are withheld. The most common form of physical violence is for the perpetrator to use mental violence against the victim, the mental violence has often been present for some time before the perpetrator turns it into physical violence.

For example, the perpetrator holds the victim hostage, the perpetrator prevents food and drink, and inflicts various serious injuries on the victim.

Sexual violence takes many forms. Sexual violence is a violation of a person's sexual freedom, for example when someone is forced to do some kind of activity that the person does not want to participate in. Sexual assault can include unsolicited touching, kissing, harsh and violent non-consensual sexual acts, coercion or attempted rape. Sexual violence in an intimate relationship can be selling your partner into prostitution or demands sexual activities that the partner has not agreed to.

Financial abuse is a way of controlling your partner through finances. An example of financial violence is when the perpetrator forbids the victim to work, distributes money and so on.

Digital violence is when violence is used through the use of technology, for example sending messages via social media, phone or email. Examples include when the perpetrator logs into social media in your name, controls who your friends are on social media, threatens to talk bad about you online, or shares stories via, for example, phone or social media applications.