During Monday morning’s press conference, Parliamentarian Eduard Pieters dedicated an essential part of his message to the motion presented in Parliament concerning relational violence.
The public itself can see the results of the vote, and Pieters believes it is necessary to share what professionals who work daily with survivors have expressed: they are not asking for empty promises, they are asking for protection, structure, and immediate action.
The noble motion from the PPA faction was not politically motivated. On the contrary, it is based on what the AVP and FUTURO parties themselves included in their Governance Plan. PPA simply requested and urged the government to do what they themselves had promised.
Within 6 Months: Protection and Immediate Response
The motion urges the government to, within six months, deliver a national management, awareness, and professionalization plan for relational violence. This is to ensure that every victim is treated with respect, humanity, and without prejudice, through all stakeholders: police, ambulance, care providers, social workers, and the judicial system.
A crucial point is uniform training for police and ambulance staff. Those who arrive first at a report can determine whether a situation is stabilized or escalating. Errors in the first response can put a victim in greater danger.
The motion also urges that within six months there be funding for:
- A national awareness campaign;
- A communication and guidance structure to provide victims with psychological and legal support;
- Continuous information to victims and their families about the progress of their cases.
Victims of relational violence are among the most vulnerable in our society. They cannot be left alone, confused, and without adequate and correct information and guidance.
Within 6 Months: Treatment for the Perpetrator to Break the Cycle
Relational violence does not stop with punishment alone. A perpetrator who does not receive treatment remains a threat. The motion demands that within six months the Ministry of Justice:
- Appoints a special department to handle perpetrators;
- Creates a professional team to treat them;
- Develops a social reintegration program that goes beyond anger management and addresses the complex causes of violent behavior.
Without this, the cycle continues to repeat.
Within 12 Months: A National Protocol
Within 12 months, the government must create a National Protocol for Care, Protection, and Referral for victims and survivors of relational violence. This protocol must guarantee:
- Multidisciplinary and comprehensive assistance;
- Coordination between police, care services, justice, and social services;
- A system that truly protects and does not retraumatize victims.
Real Legal Changes
The motion calls for legal changes to be anchored in law and not merely in an “instruction,” as one parliamentarian indicated. A key point: the perpetrator must leave the home for at least 3 days, not the victim. Currently, too often the victim has to go to a shelter or stay with family or friends, creating further trauma.
A Vote Against the Most Vulnerable
Despite the motion being focused on the human and professional aspect, and aligned with the AVP and FUTURO Governance Plan, many voted against it, with the exception of colleague MP Mike de Meza and the MEP faction.
“Next Thursday, Parliament will visit the Foundation Against Relational Violence. The PPA faction hopes that those who voted against can see the survivors firsthand, as well as professionals, and explain why they voted against a motion that was an initiative and the voice of those in Parliament,” Pieters said.
According to Eduard Pieters, Parliament must understand that relational violence is not political. It is about human life, dignity, and justice. The PPA faction will continue to fight for those who cannot stop on their own and ensure that their voices continue to be heard.