Illegal Acts - Domestic violence once more surfaces in Germany.
Women from all backgrounds face domestic violence: Recent police crime statistics show that the number of people affected by domestic violence climbed up to 256,276 individuals in 2023, an increase of 6.5% from 2022. The previous year saw an increase of over 8% compared to 2021. Notably, three-quarters of the suspects were male.
"Over 700 people in Germany endure domestic violence every day," Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) stated during a press event. Joining her were Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) and Vice President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, to present the federal report on domestic violence in Germany. Faeser added, "The majority of victims are women, composing 70.5%." Yet, it could be that this figure is much higher.
To clarify, domestic violence involves violent acts between individuals who are, or have been, in a relationship or share familial ties. The violent act can occur within a private residence or within a family-like relationship, according to BKA Vice President Martina Link.
Partner violence has emerged as the most typical type of domestic violence, making up 65.5% of all cases. In total, more than 168,000 people were victimized in 2023, representing a 6.4% rise compared to the previous year. Women faced the brunt of it, making up 79.2% of all victims. Within this category, it was mainly about premeditated minor injuries, threats, stalking, or coercion (59.1%). In more severe cases, it involved dangerous bodily harm (11.4%).
In 2023, there were 155 women killed by their partners or ex-partners - 22 more fatalities than in the previous year. For men in the same situation, the count was 24.
Female politicians stressed that femicide should not trivialise the violence as simple jealousy drama. Paus also emphasised the impact on children of witnessing such violence, stating: "When children see their mother being beaten, they carry the consequences with them for life."
Apart from this group of victims, there is the category of intra-family violence (34.5%), which can occur amongst relatives and, critically, even between grandparents and grandchildren. Over 88,411 individuals were impacted in 2023, a 6.9% rise compared to the previous year. Notably, female victims constituted less than half of these (54%), and a quarter of the victims were under 14.
Explanations for the Increasing Trend
BKA Vice President Link surmised that the recent social crises may partly contribute to the rise in domestic violence. However, there have been growing efforts to report such cases, with more neighbours and bystanders coming forward to report perpetrators.
This trend is also apparent in the "Violence against Women" helpline, whose leader, Petra Soechting, responded to 59,000 consultation calls in 2023 — a 12% increase compared to 2022.
Inevitably, the numbers keep surging annually. However, victims can access support services, though they're insufficient to meet the rising demand.
Making Violence Unattractive
Faeser stressed the need to start early to combat violence, suggesting a plan similar to Austria's, where convicted perpetrators must participate in mandatory anti-violence training before interacting with women.
The ministers intend to introduce changes in the protection against violence legislation to establish such mandatory training for perpetrators, potentially even introducing electronic ankle monitors to aid the police in responding more swiftly to crises.
Police stations at Germany's train stations are being introduced as a means of offering around-the-clock support to affected women during 2023 as well, according to Faeser.
Sheltering Victims
Paus mentioned her ongoing consultations to revise the "Violence Help Law." The new law shall provide a legal claim to protection and counselling and fund the protection offers by the federal government, aiming to create more spaces in women's shelters.
Currently, Germany's women's shelters have 7,786 spots, but Paus indicated a need for 10,300 extra beds. The police association was more stringent, arguing that about 14,000 spots are missing.
As for how to address this shortfall was undisclosed by the minister. The CDU's deputy chairman, Silvia Breher, previously urged Paus to invest in establishing additional shelters, maintaining that a legal right to protection only makes sense when there are adequate resources. Women's welfare associations concur that greater investments are needed.
"Without a binding funding commitment from all government levels, a comprehensive access to particular protection services cannot be guaranteed," the Social Welfare Association Germany's president Michaela Engelmeier said.
Read also:
- Partnerships and familial ties often contribute to instances of domestic violence, as highlighted by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in their report on German domestic violence cases.
- Germany's SPD leader, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, argued that domestic violence is not just a relationship issue, but a criminal act that affects many families and women.
- The SPD, along with the Green Party's Family Minister Lisa Paus and BKA Vice President Martina Link, presented a federal report detailing the rise in domestic violence cases, with over 256,000 individuals affected in 2023.
- In her speech, Faeser emphasized the role of the police in addressing domestic violence, stating that 700 individuals in Germany face domestic violence every day.
- The SPD and Green Party have proposed mandatory anti-violence training for perpetrators as a means to combat domestic violence, drawing inspiration from Austria's approach.
- German police stations at major train stations will offer around-the-clock support to domestic violence victims in 2023, according to Nancy Faeser.
- Current German women's shelters can only accommodate 7,786 individuals, while Family Minister Lisa Paus has indicated a need for 10,300 additional beds.
- Despite the urgent need for more resources, the Social Welfare Association Germany's president, Michaela Engelmeier, noted that a comprehensive access to protection services cannot be guaranteed without a binding funding commitment from all government levels.
- The police association argued that over 14,000 additional shelter spots are needed to effectively address domestic violence in Germany.
- In 2023, NS Deutschland reported on the increase in violent acts against women, including stalking, relationship violence, and physical abuse, highlighting the need for increased resources and support services.
- German Vice President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, called for greater awareness of the consequences of domestic violence for children, stressing the long-term impact on their mental and emotional well-being.
