- Domestic abuse: €35 million for victims
Affected individuals from abuse in homes, foster, and adoptive families are set to receive a total of 35 million euros in recognition payments, according to the proposal of an expert commission in Munich. The commission has developed a concept and procedure for paying out these recognition payments to those affected - the proposals will be presented to the city council's committee for decision next Wednesday, the city of Munich announced.
The payments are intended to benefit those who were placed in homes, foster, or adoptive families by the city's youth welfare office and still suffer from the violence they experienced there.
Signals for public awareness
"We hope that by paying out recognition payments to those affected by violence and abuse in their childhood, we not only provide financial relief in their lives, but also ensure that these fates are perceived and recognized in public," said Munich's third mayor, Verena Dietl (SPD).
However, for a fair and independent processing of the past crimes and misconduct, this must be made mandatory by a higher authority. "The city of Munich has already shown a lot of commitment and engagement in this area and is setting a clear signal with the recognition payments as voluntary payments," said Dietl.
Commission develops criteria
In autumn 2021, the city council set up the commission to investigate the incidents in homes, foster, and adoptive families. The expert commission has already received funds from the city budget for immediate aid to those affected amounting to 4.3 million euros.
Since December 2023, the commission has been working with experts in trauma and psychotherapy, victim protection, and forensic medicine to specify the criteria according to which the recognition payments will be distributed. It now proposes a budget of 35 million euros for the recognition payments, which will be subject to review by an independent committee and will be presented to the city council in anonymized form.
The recognition payments, proposed by the Municipality's expert commission, will be distributed to individuals who suffered abuse in homes, foster, or adoptive families overseen by the city's youth welfare office. The Municipality, through this initiative, aims to send a strong message of acknowledgment and support, as stated by Munich's third mayor, Verena Dietl.
