Domestic violence
Uppsala University does not tolerate threats and violence. No member of staff should have to be subjected to threats and violence, either at work or in private life. Uppsala University, as employer, wants to support members of staff who are subjected to domestic violence.
By caring about one another and increasing awareness, we can make a difference for victims.
Here you can read about domestic violence and how to obtain support and help if you personally are a victim.
Are you being subjected to violence at home or in a close relationship?
Violence can occur in all kinds of relationships. The person exercising violence may be a partner, a parent, an adult child, a relative with caring responsibilities or another closely related person. Being subjected to violence can affect an individual’s health, ability to work and life situation.
As your employer, Uppsala University wants to support you if you are a victim of violence. Talking with your manager, a trade union representative or a safety representative can be a step towards change. You and your manager can review your working situation together to ensure that it is appropriate in your particular circumstances, that the workplace is safe and that your duties at work are suitable. You can also contact the occupational health service without talking with your manager, by using your right as an employee to anonymous consultations. Anonymous consultations
What is domestic violence?
The term ‘domestic violence’ covers all types of violence between people in close relationships. This includes heterosexual and homosexual couples, other family and extended family relationships, and children experiencing violence in their family. The distinctive feature of domestic violence is that the victim has a close relationship with the perpetrator and often has strong emotional ties to that person.
Domestic violence affects both women and men, though the majority of victims are women. In most cases the perpetrator is a man. Violence by women towards men is not unknown in heterosexual relationships. Violence also occurs in HBTQ relationships. The fear of being outed as homosexual, bisexual or a trans person if you have not yet told people around you can make the violence even more difficult to manage.
Domestic violence can assume many forms. It can be physical, sexual, psychological, material or financial violence, and it often becomes more serious the longer the relationship continues.
Physical violence
Physical violence can be expressed in various ways, from pushing, hitting, kicking, strangleholds or choking to the use of weapons and blunt instruments.
Sexual violence
Sexual violence refers to everything from unwelcome touching to being forced to perform sexual acts or being subjected to such acts, including rape, or witnessing various types of sexual acts. The victim may also be photographed or filmed for a sexual purpose against their will.
Psychological violence and threats of violence
Various forms of isolation, verbal abuse, emotional blackmail, shaming and exploitation of children to gain control over the other parent are examples of psychological domestic violence. Threats can also be addressed to children, pets or close friends. Stalking (illegally pursuing or following someone) and other types of harassment are further examples of psychological violence.
Material and financial violence
Domestic violence can also consist of damage to property, for example, the perpetrator smashing furniture and other items in the home. Victims can also be forced to destroy particularly significant possessions themselves. Material violence can also be directed towards pets. The perpetrator can take control over finances and material assets in order to increase the victim’s isolation and vulnerability and make it more difficult for them to leave the relationship.
Support for victims
If you are a victim, you can contact the following actors for support:
National Centre for Knowledge on Men’s Violence Against Women
The National Centre for Knowledge on Men’s Violence Against Women (NCK) is tasked by the government with enhancing knowledge nationwide about men’s violence against women. NCK’s role also includes providing support to women subjected to violence and it runs the national helpline for women (Kvinnofridslinjen) and the outpatient clinic for women subjected to violence (Kvinnofridsmottagningen) at Uppsala University Hospital.
info@nck.uu.se
National Centre for Knowledge on Men’s Violence Against Women
Kvinnofridslinjen – the national helpline for women
Kvinnofridslinjen is a national telephone helpline that women who are subjected to violence can phone for support, around the clock, seven days a week. Calls are free of charge. The caller can be anonymous. Men can also phone Kvinnofridslinjen and be referred to an appropriate actor for further support and help. The staff have access to interpreting services for most of the languages spoken in Sweden. Relatives and people who meet victims of violence in their work, such as HR staff and managers, are also welcome to call.
Kvinnofridslinjen – the national helpline for women
Kvinnofridsmottagningen – Outpatient clinic for women subjected to violence
Clinic and advice for women subjected to violence. The clinic offers counselling support and the possibility of medical assessments, and accepts both emergency and planned visits.
Kvinnofridsmottagningen – Outpatient clinic for women subjected to violence
Helpline for men
The helpline for men is a national helpline for men subjected to physical or psychological violence by a closely related person or sexual violence. Helpline for men – NCK (uu.se)
Helpline for trans persons
The helpline for trans persons is a national helpline for adult trans persons, including non-binary persons, subjected to physical or psychological violence by a closely related person or sexual violence. Helpline for trans persons – NCK (uu.se)
Occupational health service
The occupational health service can offer initial support to employees who are victims of violence, and has information about where to refer them for further support and help. Members of staff at Uppsala University can personally book two anonymous consultations with a behavioural scientist/psychologist per year, without involving their manager.
Occupational health service (Falck in Uppsala, Avonova in Visby)
Social services
The social services can assist with support and protection, for example in the form of sheltered housing. The responsibility of the social services to provide support and protection to victims of violence is regulated in the Social Services Act.
Police report
Encourage the member of staff subjected to violence to report the matter to the police. The police can conduct a risk analysis and if necessary help with various types of protection.