- Germany is supposedly underinvesting in safeguarding feminine well-being.
In the effort to shield women from deadly partner violence, there's still much progress to be made in Germany, as per the German Association of Women's Counseling Centers and Women's Emergency Numbers (bff), according to Katja Grieger, the organization's managing director. Frequently, afflicted women are advised to simply leave their abusive partners, but this can be perilous if the danger is overlooked, Grieger explained.
It's imperative that women get expert assistance, say, at a counseling center. Regrettably, insufficient funds are allocated to safeguarding women in Germany, Grieger remarked in an interview with the German Press Agency.
Two lethal incidents in Berlin within a short span
In 2023, 155 women were slain by their partners or ex-partners in Germany, as per statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office - that's 22 more than in the preceding year. During the same period, 24 males suffered fatal partner violence.
There were two such instances in Berlin alone recently, with women being slain. Last Friday night, a 28-year-old was reportedly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend. Just a few days prior, a 36-year-old was supposedly slaughtered by her ex-husband.
Femicides frequently occur during or after separation, Grieger clarified. "If a relationship was formerly characterized by violence, control, and humiliation, the highest risk of homicide occurs when the affected woman announces her intent to separate, does so, or has already done so."
How the immediate environment should react
When women encounter or face the threat of violence, they usually turn first to individuals in their close social circle, such as friends or family members. "It's extremely significant that those they contact react with solidarity and support," Grieger emphasized. Sadly, afflicted women frequently report hearing remarks like "well, it takes two to tango" or "I can't imagine that, he appears so nice."
Grieger explained: "Support is available at counseling centers, where adept specialists work who are well-versed in the topic and can also conduct a risk assessment along with the woman. In high-risk scenarios, women can seek shelter in a women's shelter, if a spot is available. In instances of urgent escalation and danger, the police should be contacted, as they are responsible for risk management."
Risk management not consistently implemented in Germany
Grieger pointed out that the Istanbul Convention - a Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - has been in effect in Germany since 2018. However, the risk management outlined in the convention has not yet been consistently executed in Germany.
The convention mandates a systematic risk and danger assessment, in which all relevant parties - such as the police, youth welfare office, or counseling centers - jointly evaluate the risk for the woman and her children and then take appropriate measures. However, this is costly due to its labor-intensive nature, Grieger explained.
The Domestic Violence Act is forthcoming
She also criticized that the so-called Violence Assistance Act has not yet been enacted. "Only such a law coupled with an increase in financial resources can truly effect change in the daily violence that results in a fatal outcome for a woman every other day."
In response to the two incidents of violence in Berlin, Federal Women's Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) emphasized that she is currently preparing the Violence Assistance Act - it should provide all victims of violence with a right to aid. "This saves lives. It will also be expensive to support the federal states in providing more prevention and protection sites for women. We have too few of them," Paus stated.
The German Press Agency reported Grieger's comments about insufficient funding for safeguarding women, which is crucial, even as the BKA (German Federal Crime Police Office) reported an increase in fatalities due to partner violence. In these high-risk scenarios, Grieger advocates for immediate support at counseling centers like those from the BKA's network, which can assess risk and provide shelter if necessary.
