The Minister for Legal Protection, also on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Security and the State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports, has prepared a research report with the title: ‘Towards a separate criminalization of psychological abuse? Pros and cons. The report was sent to the House of Representatives, by the Open University and Avans University of Applied Sciences.

Conducting independent research is a requirement. Questions addressed include: are the current options that the Criminal Code offers sufficient to prosecute serious psychological abuse, especially in situations where there is no physical violence? In reality, what are impediments to prosecution, given the fact that there is very little jurisprudence on psychological abuse? What are the advantages and disadvantages of an explicit criminalization of psychological abuse?

Read the Dutch report. Source: report and as discussed with Janine Janssen.