The rate of domestic violence rose by 6.5% in 2023.
The rising instances of domestic violence are alarming. As per the latest police crime statistics for 2023, a whopping 256,276 individuals were reportedly affected by this issue - a 6.5% expansion from the previous year. It's noteworthy that the year before reported a massive 8% increase compared to 2021.
Interestingly, most of the victims were female (70.5%). Approximately 65.5% fell victims to partner violence, which contributed to about 168,000 cases, a 6.4% escalation from the year before.
On the brighter side, there was a decrease in cases of inter-family violence (34.5%), which involves relatives beyond partners, such as grandparents and grandchildren. The statistic records 78,341 people as affected in 2023 - a 6.7% growth from the prior year.
A startling revelation from the report is that a majority of suspects (75.6%) identified as male. Nearly all victims of partner violence (79.2%) were women, with just 20.8% being male. Moreover, the majority of cases involved simple physical harm, threats, stalking, or coercion, among other dangerous actions.
Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus expressed dismay, stating, "the shuddering growth in domestic violence figures underscores the sobering magnitude of this disheartening reality. Violence is an everyday occurrence, a situation that must not be tolerated."
She, along with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and the Vice President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, unveiled the Federal Situation Report on Domestic Violence recently.
Paus expressed her commitment to victims by vowing to introduce a new law known as the Violence Assistance Act. This act is aimed at creating the basis for a stable and adaptable support system for individuals suffering from domestic and gender-based violence.
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The rise in domestic violence is a concerning proportion of overall crime statistics, with a 6.5% increase observed in 2023. Furthermore, the government is seeking to address this issue through initiatives like the proposed Violence Assistance Act, recognizing that domestic violence remains a significant percentage of reported violence.
