Law enforcement reports 256,000 instances of domestic abuse.

Law enforcement reports 256,000 instances of domestic abuse.

Domestic violence cases kept rising: in 2023, the incidents outnumbered those of the previous year with over 250,000. Out of which, 70% of the victims were women. The level of violence was extreme as nearly 180 cases ended in fatalities.

The number of domestic violence victims grew once more last year. As per a recent police report, a whopping 256,276 individuals experienced domestic abuse in 2023, ushering in a 6.5% rise from 2022. The year before that, there was an increase of over 8% compared to 2021.

The vast majority of the victims were women (70.5%). Of these, a significant 65.5% fell victim to partner violence. This number amounted to roughly 168,000, representing a 6.4% increase from 2022.

The other victims, 34.5%, faced intra-family violence. This is a type of violence that could occur between grandparents and grandchildren or other close family members. In 2023, this form of violence impacted 78,341 individuals according to statistics, an increase of 6.7% from the year before.

Predicted physical harm is most prevalent

For the most part, 75.6% of those deemed responsible for domestic violence were males. Oppositely, 79.2% of the affected individuals were women, with 20.8% being males. Most of the time, it was premeditated simple physical harm (59.1%), threats, stalking, or coercion (24.6%), and severe physical harm (11.4%). 155 women and 24 men were killed by their partners or ex-partners in the previous year.

Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus expressed her dismay at the increasing numbers of domestic violence. "These disturbingly high numbers of domestic violence expose the alarming reality of a heart-wrenching truth. Violence is an everyday occurrence - something that must be put to an end," Paus asserted. In company with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the Vice President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, she presented the Federal Domestic Violence Situation Report. Faeser dubbed it a "violence spiral" that must be stopped.

Paus promised the victims a new law. "We are in desperate need of a nationwide, easily accessible support system with secure shelters and competent counseling," Paus stressed. "To achieve this, we're working on a law to secure access to protection and counseling for gender-based and domestic violence." This upcoming law dubbed the Violence Support Law will "establish the foundation for a support system for domestic and gender-based violence that is tailored to needs of survivors."

It's also essential that perpetrators put an end to their violent ways and undergo a change, stressed Faeser. "Such a change requires not only consistent prosecution but also mandatory anger management for the offenders." Sticks and Blue laws must be stringently enforced. Furthermore, the federal government is considering using electronic ankle bracelets to monitor perpetrators. In such a scenario, the police would "be able to intervene more quickly in an emergency and prevent further violence against women more efficiently," Faeser stated.

The number of domestic violence cases reported by the police is increasing nearly uninterruptedly, as per statistics - a staggering 19.5% increase in the last five years. However, the absence of reported incidents to the police, attributable to fear, embarrassment, or other factors, severely curtails the accurate representation of the situation. A thorough study is being conducted to shed light on this elusive realm.

Read also:

1. The increase in domestic violence cases led to a rise in the number of murder and manslaughter incidents, with 155 women and 24 men losing their lives due to partner or ex-partner violence in 2023.
2. Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus condemned the rising domestic violence numbers, stating, "Violence against women is an everyday occurrence that must be stopped," and calling for a new law that would provide better support and protection for victims.
3. In response, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser suggested enforcing strict laws and using electronic ankle bracelets to monitor perpetrors, aiming to prevent further violence and intervene more quickly in emergencies.
4. In addition to the rising domestic violence numbers, there have also been reports of stalking and other forms of violence against women on an international scale, highlighting the urgent need for global action to combat gender-based violence.

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