3 Criminal Law - Criminal Procedure - Execution - 32 Criminal Procedure - 322 Neuchâtel Criminal Procedure - Chapter One General Provisions (GBHG)

1. The purpose of this law is to contribute to the protection of individuals within the family and domestic context by supporting and reinforcing efforts to combat domestic violence.

2. It aims to ensure coherence and reliability in the framework established for supporting individuals affected by domestic violence.

a) domestic violence: all acts of physical, sexual (including female genital mutilation), psychological (including forced marriages), or economic violence that occur within the family or household or between former or current spouses or partners, regardless of whether the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim;

b) individuals affected by domestic violence: the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as children and relatives living within the domestic circle.

1. The State supports structures providing care and assistance to victims of domestic violence and their children. It may participate in their funding in the form of financial aid.

2. It ensures that the available provision of emergency accommodation structures meets the needs.

The State encourages the development of a specialized structure for perpetrators of domestic violence. It may participate in its financing in the form of financial aid.

**1. The State implements an information policy on the issue of domestic violence with a view to raising awareness and prevention.**

2. The State ensures that the training of teachers provides them with knowledge and tools for the prevention and detection of domestic violence at all levels of education.

3. It ensures that pupils, apprentices, and students in the schools of Neuchâtel are made aware of the issue of domestic violence.

The State ensures the coordination and relevance of measures taken in the field of combating domestic violence.

The Police Act (LPol), dated November 4, 2014 [2], regulates the restraining measures that can be imposed on perpetrators of domestic violence.

**The law on combating violence within couple relationships (LVCouple), of March 30, 2004 [3], is repealed.**

1. The Council of State shall establish the necessary implementing provisions.

2. The Office of Family Policy and Equality is responsible for the application of this law.

Law enacted by the Council of State on December 18, 2019.

This law shall come into force on January 1, 2020.