Reflections on Peace, Philosophy, and Life

Primitive or Sophisticated? Our Behaviour Is the Real Measure

(Reading time: 3 - 6 minutes)
Domestic violence victims

We pride ourselves on being modern, advanced, even sophisticated. Yet if respect for human life is still missing, how modern are we really? From Switzerland to South Africa, from the U.S. to Canada, femicide and violence reveal our primitive side. And yet, there are places—like Spain—showing that progress is possible.

We like to call other people primitive. We point to places we don’t understand and shake our heads. But when I look around—yes, even here in beautiful Switzerland—I see something simpler and truer: if we haven’t learned to respect one another as human beings, we are still primitive. Behaviour, not branding, tells the story.

We celebrate technology, wealth, and orderly systems. We send rockets to Mars and carry supercomputers in our pockets. But if we can’t manage the basics—dignity, non-violence, kindness—then all that shine is only a clever veneer over a very old problem.

Counting What We Refuse to Count

Take femicide—the gender-related killing of women and girls. Even how we count (or don’t count) it says a lot. In Switzerland, “femicide” isn’t recognized as a separate category; homicide of women is lumped together regardless of motive. A convenient omission that hides harsh realities. Yet this is not unique: the U.S. also lacks formal femicide codification, making prevention and justice tougher to achieve. In South Africa, rates remain alarmingly high. In Canada, the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is so systemic that a national inquiry officially designated it as genocide, not rhetoric.

What “Sophistication” Should Mean

If primitive means failing the basic test of respect, then sophisticated should mean the opposite: listening deeply, valuing every person’s dignity, wielding power without abuse, and channelling our anger into justice, not destruction. By that measure, modern societies—my own included—still fall short in how we treat women, minorities, and those who challenge us.

Switzerland, Honestly

We’re proud of our safety, prompt trains, and social order. But beneath that façade, problems persist: domestic violence, social exclusion, and a reluctance to even name certain harms. Naming is the first step to change. A truly mature society doesn't gloss over or mislabel harm—it confronts it.

Signs of Hope: Spain’s Meaningful Advances

There is reason for hope. Take Spain. Over the past two decades, Spain has made significant strides: femicides have dropped by about one-third since 2003, thanks to stronger laws, specialized courts, and expanded support services—including legal and psychological aid for victims. Read more.

In 2022, Spain introduced a new classification system for gender-related killings, distinguishing femicides by partner, family, sexual motive, social motive, and even vicarious killings (e.g. of children to harm women). This broader approach makes invisible forms of violence visible—so prevention can be more precise and just. Details here.

The country’s “Only Yes Is Yes Law” (Ley Orgánica 10/2022) redefined sexual violence, placing consent at the centre and outlawing previously tolerated behaviours like street harassment and forced marriage. It also provides financial and housing support for victims. Learn more.

Additionally, Spain pioneered VioGén, a risk-assessment system for domestic violence cases. It categorizes threat levels—negligible to extreme—based on standardized criteria, helping police and authorities prioritize protection. A new upgraded version, VioGén 2, is already in development. Overview here.

Spain also launched social-participation initiatives like the “Red Card to Abusers” campaign—where citizens publicly show a red card to condemn domestic violence—and the “Roses Revolution”, an international movement born in Spain to protest obstetric violence and demand respectful care during childbirth. Red Card | Roses Revolution.

A Practical Pivot in Our Own Backyard

Sophistication begins in the smallest moment: choosing to see another person’s humanity. It’s how we engage—not just in policy, but in daily life. How we respond when someone is unsafe. How we talk about domestic violence in our communities. If institutions are slow to act, it’s up to us to insist they do: collect better data, design more inclusive laws, support victim services. These are buildable acts of compassion.

Where We Stand

We stand at a crossroads. One path is old and worn: violence, euphemism, denial. The other is harder: truth, naming harm, radical respect, targeted action. Spain shows that progress is possible—even imperfect, even reversible—but real. Until we choose that second path consistently, we risk calling ourselves sophisticated when we’re still learning the basics of humanity.

 

Sources Used

Switzerland

United States

South Africa

Canada

Global

Spain

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