Abstract:

Domestic violence (DV) or intimate partner violence (IPV) is increasingly recognised as a public health issue and a human rights violation. It is a complex phenomenon with high costs not only for the victims, but also for families, organisations and society as a whole. In Portugal, the crime of domestic violence against spouses or similar is currently the most reported crime to the security forces, with data showing a worrying upward trend (between 2021 and 2022 there was a 15% increase in reports, according to the Annual Report on Internal Security (RASI)). Focusing on the Portuguese reality, this paper aims to discuss the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the prevention and eradication of DV. By mapping existing institutional initiatives and policies in this area - through an exploratory analysis of the strategic documents of public HEIs, especially gender equality plans - this study seeks to identify good practices at the national level and reflect on the integration of this societal challenge into HEIs strategy. In doing so, we also discuss whether HEIs can contribute more effectively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords:

Higher education, domestic violence, gender.