Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma pledges €12 million in funding to fight femicide

Mayor Sharon Dijksma pledged additional funding to combat femicide in Utrecht, joining a national campaign against controlling behavior and domestic violence, RTV Utrecht reported. The national government has allocated 12 million euros for local initiatives, while the Ministry of Justice and Security launched the “Where Are You?” campaign with 1 million euros in funding to raise awareness of coercive control, which often precedes femicide.

Dijksma made her announcement during a city council committee meeting where Claire Derckx, a committee member and survivor of violence, gave a personal testimony. “The police once told me to come back only when I was visibly injured,” Derckx said. She called for a perpetrator-focused approach. “Behaviors are often already criminal, but they are not always punished.” Derckx presented eight demands to the mayor, nearly all of which were agreed to, with follow-up promised on remaining points.

Utrecht plans to join a Rotterdam pilot using electronic ankle monitors combined with restraining orders, requiring coordination across all municipalities in the Midden Nederland police unit.

Derckx also highlighted a local pilot where police conduct early forensic exams on anyone who has experienced attempted strangulation. “That’s a good step,” she said, “but such incidents often occur late in the cycle. Many warning signs appear much earlier, such as jealousy, controlling behavior, and stalking.”

The “Where Are You?” campaign, running until the end of 2026, features a video showing a woman moving in with her partner and experiencing escalating control, from phone restrictions to being prevented from leaving her home. Viewers are urged to contact Veilig Thuis if they notice warning signs.

Caretaker State Secretary for Social Care Nicki Pouw-Verweij told ANP, “Controlling behavior is about controlling a woman. If someone withdraws from an active social life, reacts nervously when asked about it, and says her boyfriend doesn’t like it, those are the first red flags.”

According to Statistics Netherlands, nearly 200,000 people were victims of controlling behavior last year, occurring more frequently among women. Pouw-Verweij emphasized, “Women deserve to take back the night, the day, public spaces, and most importantly, their own homes.” The murder of 17-year-old Lisa in Duivendrecht has further sparked public discussion on the issue, highlighting a “broader framework of insecurity,” the state secretary said.