Amendment to the Criminal Law Regarding Domestic Violence

Brief Description

In March 2016, Iceland amended its criminal law regarding domestic violence. The article (no. 218 b) now says that any person who, repeatedly or seriously, poses a threat to the life, health or well-being of his or her present or former spouse or cohabiting partner, to his or her descendant or the descendant of his or her present or former spouse or cohabiting partner, to an older person in his or her direct blood-line, or to other persons who live with him or her in the home or are in his or her care, by means of violence, threats, deprivation of freedom, coercion or in another manner, shall be imprisoned for up to 6 years. A gross violation may be punishable by up to 16 years’ imprisonment. When the seriousness of the violation is assessed, consideration shall be given to whether the injured party suffered major physical injury or damage to his or her health or whether the violation was fatal. Furthermore, consideration shall be given to whether the violation was committed in a particularly painful or injurious manner, whether it lasted a long time or whether the perpetrator grossly abused his or her superior position vis-à-vis the injured party.