Day against violence against women: Faeser calls for better protection
Against the backdrop of many cases of violence against women, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser is calling for better protection for those affected. "In order to better protect women, we (...) are sensitizing our police forces. If they recognize signs and warning signals, they can intervene early and prevent worse things from happening," said the SPD politician on Saturday in a video posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter) to mark the International Day to End Violence against Women.
In addition, the inhibition threshold for those affected to seek help should be lowered further.
Specifically, Faeser referred to a hidden app that runs on smartphones and is intended to offer women affected direct support. According to previous information, the Federal Ministry of the Interior is funding the development of this app with 3.7 million euros until the end of 2026.
"Violence against women is not a private matter. It concerns us all," said Faeser. Almost every third day, a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner. "We must all help to stop violence against women."
According to the United Nations, the number of women and girls murdered worldwide in 2022 rose to its highest level in 20 years. Around 89,000 women and girls were deliberately killed, these are the known cases. The number of unreported cases is expected to be high.
In Germany, the Federal Criminal Police Office counted 240,547 victims of domestic violence last year - 8.5 percent more than in the previous year. There were 157,550 cases of violence in partnerships. Around 80 percent of the victims were women.
Several federal government ministers drew attention to the International Day of Violence against Women on Saturday. Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) wrote on X: "Girls and women should be able to live free from fear and violence - in Germany and all over the world." Actions and demonstrations are planned for the day in several federal states.
The rising number of crimes against women globally necessitates stronger action. According to Faeser, nearly every third day, a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner in Germany alone, highlighting the urgency of this issue.
Source: www.dpa.com
