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“It’s not invisible, it’s ignored!”
Intimate partner violence affects many people, and statistics show that women are disproportionately impacted. Women with disabilities are particularly exposed and face specific challenges that increase their vulnerability and isolation.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “a person is considered to have a disability if one or more physical, mental, intellectual or sensory functions are impaired, either temporarily or permanently, limiting their autonomy or participation in society.”
In Switzerland, although 22% of the population (one in five people) lives with a disability, it remains extremely difficult to find reliable national data on violence experienced by people with disabilities. In a 2023 report, the Federal Council acknowledged that existing knowledge is “very limited” and that there is “no representative database” regarding domestic violence targeting people with disabilities.
International studies estimate that women with disabilities face up to ten times higher risk of sexual violence. According to the United Nations (2023), women with disabilities are two to three times more likely to experience intimate partner violence.
violencequefaire.ch has a team of specialists who are sensitised to issues related to disability and intimate partner violence.
It is never easy for people experiencing intimate partner violence to speak about it or to ask for help. Several barriers make it even more difficult for people with disabilities:
• Increased dependence on the person using violence (for care, mobility, communication, finances, etc.)
• Limited knowledge about disability among health, justice or social services professionals
• Accessibility barriers in support services, helplines or emergency shelters
• Fear of not being believed, especially for people with psychosocial, intellectual or sensory disabilities
• Communication difficulties due to the lack of interpreters, adapted tools or training in inclusive communication
• Intimate partner violence can take different forms: psychological, physical, sexual and economic. In addition to these forms, people with disabilities may also face medical or care-related violence, for example when a partner refuses to provide necessary care (hiding medication, ignoring or minimising pain, not providing enough food, intentionally neglecting essential needs), or provides care in a rough or harmful way (such as giving a cold shower or brushing hair violently).
The vulnerabilities linked to disability can increase the severity of the violence, as they give the partner using violence additional means to exert power, control and coercion.
• The lack of training and awareness among health, social and justice professionals can also expose people to institutional violence, particularly when they share their experience of abuse.
On violencequefaire.ch, specialists in the field of domestic violence answer your written, anonymous questions within three working days. Breaking the silence is a first step towards stopping the cycle of violence.
This website has been designed to allow you to talk about your situation safely and to support you in your first steps away from violence. You will find written support, someone who will listen, and personalised advice based on your needs
