Background & Purpose

Many forms of controlling and degrading behavior that break down a person's self-esteem have previously been difficult to prosecute under existing laws. This new law aims to close that gap.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed a new law targeting repeated patterns of behavior such as insults, humiliation, threats, and unwanted monitoring. The goal is to punish actions that are specifically designed to destroy a person's self-worth, even if they do not involve physical violence.

The Decision

The parliament approved the proposal, meaning that repeated psychological abuse will now be a specific crime punishable by up to four years in prison.

Does this affect you?

  • Victims of domestic abuse: They gain stronger legal protection against controlling and degrading behavior that does not involve physical violence.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors: They receive a clearer legal framework to investigate and charge individuals for psychological abuse.

In Practice

  • Repeated insults and accusations intended to break down a person's self-esteem become illegal.
  • Unwanted and persistent monitoring of a person is now a punishable offense.
  • The law covers various forms of humiliation and coercion that were previously hard to prosecute.
  • The maximum penalty for these crimes is set to four years in prison.