Europe's failure to protect women from violent partners exposed by landmark ruling
A recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has highlighted serious gaps in protecting women from violent partners. The court found that Swiss authorities failed to shield Nicole Dill from her ex-partner, who later attempted to kill her. Now, similar systemic flaws in Austria have come under scrutiny, raising concerns about how well women are safeguarded from known risks.
Nicole Dill survived a near-fatal attack by her ex-partner, a man with a long history of violent crimes. He was on conditional release at the time, with mandatory therapy, yet authorities did not intervene despite warnings. A psychological report had flagged his high risk of violence, especially if the relationship ended. The ECtHR later ruled that Swiss officials should have recognised Dill's vulnerability and taken action to protect her.
Austria faces comparable issues. Courts often lack access to full criminal records, while police cannot view nationwide data. This means women may remain unaware of a partner's violent past, and authorities may miss critical chances to issue protective orders. Under Austria's Security Police Act, individuals must be warned if there is a reasonable suspicion of an imminent attack—but only if the risk is known.
Maria Rösslhumer, former head of the Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters, argues for urgent reforms. She calls for better risk assessments, involving women in safety decisions, and granting them access to a partner's criminal and medical records when warning signs appear. Without these changes, she warns, the cycle of violence will continue.
The ECtHR's decision underscores a broader problem: states must act decisively to prevent attacks. This includes stronger deterrents for offenders and ensuring authorities have the tools to assess threats properly.
The ruling against Switzerland has exposed weaknesses in how countries like Austria handle domestic violence cases. Women often remain unprotected due to fragmented records and slow responses. For change to happen, legal reforms and better coordination between agencies will be necessary to close these dangerous gaps.
