Harassment Parliament advocates separate criminal offense against stalking
Parliament wants to better protect victims of stalking. After the National Council, the Council of States has also approved the creation of a separate criminal offense against stalking. However, it deviated from the decision of the upper chamber on two important points.
16.12.2024, 19:23
SDA
In the overall vote, the Council of States approved the amendment to the law on Monday by 32 votes to 7 with one abstention. Next, the National Council will have to deal with the matter again.
The decree on the criminal offense of stalking was drafted by the National Council's Legal Affairs Committee (RK-N). According to the draft, anyone who persistently pursues, harasses or threatens someone and thereby restricts his or her freedom of life should be punishable with a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine.
The Council of States would like to change this definition. According to this, it should be sufficient for a behavior to be capable of restricting someone's freedom of life. It would not be necessary to prove that this effect is actually achieved for the victim in order to be punished.
Unlike the National Council, the Council of States, like the Federal Council, wants stalking to be prosecuted only at the request of the victim. In the summer session, the National Council had spoken out in favor of prosecuting stalking in couple relationships ex officio.
