Overview
Compared to people without disabilities, people with physical, mental, intellectual and sensory impairments are of increased risk of experiencing interpersonal violence in family and institutional settings as well as in public spaces. Although various victim support services for victims with and without disabilities exist in Switzerland, these services are often not accessible for people with disabilities, professionals do not feel responsible for people with disabilities, and/or they are rarely adapted to the needs of this population group. On behalf of the Federal Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (FOEPD), we are analyzing the accessibility of victim support services for people with disabilities. Based on the findings, recommendations for improving the accessibility of victim support services are made.
The project is based on the political postulate 20.3886 (Roth) “Violence against people with disabilities in Switzerland”. However, it focus lies on the working package “Ensuring the access to victim support services for people with disabilities” as defined by the FOEPD. Study results will serve as the basis for the preparation of a Federal Council report on the topic.
