Murder between partners must be combated

In Norway, there’s a woman called Kine Pedersen Aamodt. She’s a victim of domestic violence committed by her former live-in partner. She’s been subjected to 190 rapes, as well as torture-like gross and serious violence, as the court in Norway qualifies it. Kine’s former partner and assailant has now been convicted and imprisoned. She herself has chosen to come forward with her story and is working to prevent others from being exposed to the nightmare she’s been through. The Nordic Council’s Committee for Welfare wants to support her and others like her. 

The Nordic Council has just adopted the Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Region’s proposal to the Nordic Council of Ministers to combat violence between partners. “Doing this within the framework of Nordic co-operation will elevate the initiative considerably,” points out Tone Trøen, vice-chair of the Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Council.

“The Nordic countries resemble each other in this gloomy area. That’s why it is my and the committee’s assessment that Nordic co-operation will provide added value and strengthen the prevention and combating of violence and murder between partners,” says Tone. 

Unfortunately, Kine’s story isn’t unique. There is a high prevalence of violence and murder in intimate relationships in the Nordic Region compared to other parts of the world. A study shows that the proportion of murder between partners in Norway is as high as 27 percent of all murders in the country. This is twice as high as the average rate of murders between partner internationally. Statistics also show that, in general, there are more men who commit violence and murder against their female partners in intimate relationships than the other way round. 

“Violence against women and murders of women are considered from several sides to be the greatest challenge to gender equality facing the Nordic Region,” says Eva Lindh, chair of the Nordic Council’s Committee for Welfare. 
She points to the need for Nordic co-operation with the aim of creating a common definition and registration. Such a common starting point is currently missing, which makes it more difficult to work together in combating violence and murder in close relationships. 

Silje Karine Muotka, vice-president of the Sámi Parliamentary Council, has discussed this topic with the Nordic Council’s Committee for Welfare. She points out that the initiative must take the Sámi community into account.  

“Violence in intimate relationships is a serious social problem that prevents us from living good lives. The Sámi parliaments must be reformed to introduce measures that stop violence. The Nordic states have a responsibility to protect their population from violence, and this means that measures to prevent violence in intimate relationships must also be tailored to Sámi communities,” says Silje Karine Muotka.