Domestic violence is the most important violation world wide of human rights of women and one of the most frequent causes for death! The WHO estimates that one of five women experience domestic violence throughout their lifetime. In Switzerland, as much as elsewhere. The batterers and the victims are to be found in all social strata, ages and origins. The costs cause enormous economic damage. Thanks to efficient cooperation of all the governmental and non-governmental institutions victims can be protected a lot better and batterers can be prosecuted. Coordinating the different measures to be taken by all these actors is the central duty of the cantonal intervention projects against domestic violence. Research - in the medical domain, too - is very important. New laws (e.g. domestic violence as officially prosecuted/ expulsion of the perpetrator) should have a preventive effect and express the very clear message: Domestic violence is not a private issue (any longer)!