evidoria

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Good practice Imported

Heimilisfriður — Iceland's National Treatment Centre for Domestic-Violence Perpetrators

Iceland · Reykjavik · See the Iceland profile · See the Reykjavik profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 26% 85/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Iceland's national, subsidised treatment centre for people who use partner violence (2006). A 2024 evaluation surveyed 75 of 262 clients (2017–2023) and 37 partners: most reported reduced violence and high satisfaction.

262
Clients treated, 2017-2023
38%
Client survey response rate
Heimilisfriður — Iceland's National Treatment Centre for Domestic-Violence Perpetrators

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Heimilisfriður
Period
2006–present (evaluation covers 2017–2023, published Jan. 2024)
Keywords
gender-based violence, perpetrator intervention, mental health services, government-subsidised counselling

Context

Heimilisfriður ('Home Peace') is Iceland's national treatment and knowledge centre on relationship violence, based in Reykjavík and serving the whole country since 2006, treating clients of all genders through individual and group therapy.

Results

A January 2024 evaluation by Félagsvísindastofnun (University of Iceland), covering everyone treated in 2017-2023, obtained 75 client responses (of 262 clients) and 37 partner responses. Most clients and partners reported the treatment necessary and were satisfied; violent behaviour had decreased since starting treatment, more for physical than emotional abuse.

Conclusions

The evidence is self-reported with no untreated comparison group, and 38-40% net response rates raise the possibility that more satisfied clients responded; evaluators themselves note partners need more dedicated support and the service is not visible enough to everyone who might need it.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results
Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills
clinical treatment staff (individual and group therapy)

Conditions for success

  • remote/phone sessions to serve the whole country, not just Reykjavík
  • dedicated, subsidised support for partners, not only perpetrators

Common failure modes

  • evaluators note the service is not visible enough to everyone who might need it

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

Attachments

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