Abuse does not need to leave a bruise to deserve attention. Threats, humiliation and control can matter even when there is no visible injury. Sweden's offence of psychological violence, psykiskt våld, addresses certain forms of this harm. It has applied since 1 July 2026. [1]
On 26 October, the Swedish Prosecution Authority published a new explanation of the offence. The law did not begin this week. The explanation offers a reason to revisit an important question: what does it mean to take harm seriously when it cannot be seen? [2]
What does Sweden's psychological violence law cover?
The offence can cover repeated accusations, degrading statements, humiliating behaviour, improper threats, coercion or surveillance. Taken together, the violations must be of a kind liable to seriously damage the person's self-esteem. Not every argument or hurtful remark meets this legal threshold. [3]
There is also a separate provision for sustained improper surveillance that meets the serious-harm threshold. Repetition is therefore not the only route by which surveillance can fall within the offence. The maximum prison sentence is four years. [4]
These are summaries of Swedish law, not definitions of the law in other countries or an assessment of anyone's individual case.
Does the law apply only to partners?
No. The people involved do not have to be current or former partners or family members. The Prosecution Authority also explains that actual damage to self-esteem does not have to be proved for this offence. The assessment concerns the conduct and the legal requirements. [2]
That distinction matters. A person's ability to work, make plans or appear composed should never become an expectation that they must look visibly broken before anyone listens. Support should leave room for someone to describe their experience in their own words.
Care should leave room for choice
Consider the difference between an invitation to stay connected and a demand to account for every movement. Spher's position is simple: support should respect a person's freedom to choose. A relationship does not create an entitlement to permanent access to someone else's whereabouts.
This is a principle about autonomy, not a checklist for deciding whether a crime has occurred. The responsibility for abuse belongs to the person using it. It does not belong to someone who trusted them, stayed in contact or found it difficult to explain what was happening.
For friends and communities, the starting point can be modest: listen without judgement and avoid pushing someone into a decision. Kvinnofridslinjen's guidance for relatives places those choices at the centre of support. [5]
Support in Sweden
Kvinnofridslinjen: 116 016. Sweden's national helpline is free, open around the clock and allows callers to remain anonymous. Interpreters can be arranged. In an emergency in Sweden, call 112. These contact details concern Sweden. [6]
Where Spher fits
Spher is a free safety and community app for women, with groups and live-location sharing with selected contacts. [7] For us, the connection to this subject begins with respect for personal choice. An app is not a substitute for specialist support or emergency services.
There should be room for both practical connection and a bigger demand: that institutions and communities take psychological violence seriously. Neither should depend on a woman making her life smaller.
Read more: Location sharing should feel like support, not surveillance.
Editorial note
Sources and product information checked on 28 October 2026. Prepared with AI assistance. This article explains Swedish law and is general information, not individual legal advice. Read the Spher editorial policy.
Sources
- Swedish Police: law effective 1 July 2026.
- Swedish Prosecution Authority, 26 October 2026.
- Swedish Parliament, decision of 20 May 2026, report 2025/26:JuU39.
- Swedish Criminal Code, Chapter 4, Section 7 b.
- Kvinnofridslinjen: for relatives.
- Kvinnofridslinjen: support and interpretation and helpline and emergency number.
- Spher: the app.