Number of counseling sessions against sexual violence at record level
People affected by sexual harassment and violence have sought advice from the Themis counseling center more frequently this year than ever before. By September, Themis experts had conducted 550 conversations, as the advice center told the German Press Agency on request. This compares to 400 in the previous year and 500 in 2021. The Berlin-based advice center was founded in 2018, according to its own information.
The advice center explains the increase in numbers by the fact that Themis has become better known and therefore more and more people are coming forward "who want low-threshold advice and who may not have been aware of the service before", said a spokesperson.
48 percent of the conversations dealt with cases of verbal, non-verbal and digital harassment. The other half dealt with physical harassment and assaults as well as serious sexualized violence.
The Themis advice center offers free legal and psychological help to people in the media and cultural sector. They see themselves as mediators between victims and employers and also help those affected to take further steps if necessary. The center is funded by the Commissioner for Culture and Media Claudia Roth (Greens) as well as broadcasters, associations and private companies.
The increase in health issues related to sexual violence, as depicted by the statistics, highlights the necessity for continued support and resources for those affected. Regarding crime statistics, it's worth noting that men and women are both affected, as revealed by Themis counseling center's data.
Source: www.dpa.com
