Domestic Abuse

The Red Cross Helpline 1717 is a phone service and webchat for those who need someone to talk to in confidentiality. They are open 24 hours, and it's free to call.

Bjarkarhlíð is a center for people who have experienced abuse. There you get all the support and counseling you need in one place. All assistance is on your terms.

Bjarmahlíð is a center for people who have experienced abuse. There you get all the support and counseling you need in one place. All assistance is on your terms.

Suðurhlíð is a center for victims of violence. The aim is to provide support, advice and education about the nature and consequences of violence.

Sigurhæðir is a service for victims of gender-based violence in South Iceland. There you receive counsel, support and therapy on your terms, free of charge..

Domestic abuse can happen in all kinds of families.

If someone related to you or close to you inflicts abuse on you, that is called domestic abuse or intimate partner violence.

It is emotional abuse when someone threatens you or deliberately tries to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore you. It's also sometimes called psychological abuse.

Spiking does not only happen among strangers. A partner, ex-partner, caregiver or another trusted person can also do spiking. This is a form of domestic abuse called chemical control.

Physical abuse and violence are when someone hurts you physically, like with pinching, shoving, kicking, or punching. Threats of physical abuse are also physical violence.

Sexual abuse is when someone touches you sexually or in a not appropriately way, or forces you to perform a sexual act against your will. Sexual harassment with words or action is also abuse.

Financial abuse is when someone cheats you of your money, steals from you, or denies you access to your money.

Digital abuse is when someone uses technology or technological devices to monitor, harass, threaten, or humiliate you.

Neglect is when someone does not tend to the wants of a person who needs help, like a child, a person with a disability or an elderly person.

If someone repeatedly harasses, follows or threatens you or monitors you, they are a stalker and their behaviour is called stalking.

When someone uses a spiritual practice or religion to frighten you, hurt you or control you, it is called religious abuse.

Honour-based abuse is when someone, usually a close relative, inflicts abuse on you to protect the honour of the family. When honour is set above your human rights, that is abuse.

Female genital mutilation is abuse and illegal in Iceland.