Crime figures updated. - Increase in domestic violence victims reaches new heights.
This year, domestic violence cases have surged yet again, with a whopping 6.5% increase compared to the previous year, bringing the total to 256,276 affected individuals. This follows an increase of over 8% in the year before.
The majority of these victims were women, who make up 70.5% of the total. Out of these, 65.5% were victims of partner violence, resulting in approximately 168,000 cases, a mere 6.4% rise from 2022.
The other 34.5% were victims of intra-family violence. Intra-family violence doesn't just involve couples - it can happen between grandparents and grandchildren or any other close relatives. This form of violence affected 78,341 people in 2023 - a 6.7% increase over the last year.
Unsurprisingly, men made up the majority of the suspects in domestic violence, accounting for 75.6% of all instances. In cases of partner violence, the perpetrators were predominantly male at 79.2%, while 20.8% of victims were men. Common types of violence included simple assault (59.1%), threats or stalking (24.6%), and dangerous bodily harm (11.4%). A tragic 155 women and 24 men were killed by their partners or ex-partners in the past year.
Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) expressed her concern: "The alarming rise in domestic violence statistics highlights the grim reality. Violence is an everyday occurrence, and it's simply not acceptable." Paus, joined by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and Vice President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, unveiled the Federal Situation Report on Domestic Violence.
To better support victims, Paus promised a new law: "We urgently need a nationwide, easily accessible support system consisting of safe shelters and expert counseling. We're currently working on a law for the security of access to protection and counseling for gender-based and domestic violence." This proposed Violence Support Law aims to create solid foundations for a comprehensive and effective help system for gender-based and domestic violence.
Despite these rising figures, the Federal Interior Ministry cautions that many incidents go unreported due to fear or shame, which means that the true scale of domestic violence isn't fully captured in police crime statistics. For this reason, a comprehensive study is underway to further understand this shadowy area.
Over the past five years, the number of officially reported domestic violence cases has been increasing gradually by 19.5%. This new law could potentially offer some relief and support to those affected.
