One in every three women worldwide will be victims of violence. Reminded every 25. November, the International day against violence against women. In Germany, the danger, especially in the middle environment lurks.
It happens in the living room or bedroom, sometimes on families and birthday parties. Where women should supposedly feel safe, you are at risk in Germany. Statistically, every five minutes, threatened a woman, beaten, stalked, psychologically pressured, sexually assaulted or raped – and the trend is rising. The most recent statistics of the Federal criminal police office says. Perpetrators are mostly husband, partner or male family members in the age group 30 to 39 years.
Only the tip of the iceberg
The number of victims of so-called partnership violence, or domestic violence increased between 2013 and 2017, more than 121,000 of nearly 140,000 cases. Particularly shocking: every second to third day, was killed in the last year, a woman by her Partner or Ex-Partner. “But the Problem is definitely bigger than the Numbers reflect that,” says Dominic carpenter in the DW-interview. According to the press-Secretary of the relief organization for victims of Crime White Ring women of domestic violence are threatened more than other violent offences such as common assault or robbery.
There are, after authorities reported a high number of unreported cases. Many did not even coming to light. “A maximum of 20 percent of the people Affected to get help, so that of much more Sacrifice is expected,” explains carpenter. The Minister of justice and former family and women’s Affairs Minister Katarina Barley explained in the First German television, this was because violence against women is still occupied very shame, “that the women will often believe that they are themselves to blame for this condition.”
Offender from the next environment
Women be shy, especially in front of it to turn to with their problems to the protection of victims groups, or authorities if the offender comes from the next environment. “That is why it is so important that we make the theme public and say, You’re not alone,” said Barley. So if this Sunday the United Nations with the International day against violence against women, to abuse, then the abuse is in Germany, in the own four walls in the foreground.
Minister for the family, Franziska Giffey promotes programs against domestic violence
The UN will start on 25. November their campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence”, the each year to 10. December continues, the human rights day. During these sixteen days of events and activities take place in the world, buildings and landmarks will be bathed in Orange. The color Orange symbolizes a violence-free future. The Motto this year is: “Nobody.” Also the building of the Deutsche Welle in Bonn is illuminated in Orange.
35 million euros against violence
Prior to this action, the Federal government unveiled new plans to combat violence against women. On Tuesday, Federal Minister for family Affairs Franziska Giffey in Berlin presented the “forensic statistical analysis to partnership violence, 2017” in Berlin and announced that 35 million euros to be invested in a programme of action against violence. They also called for more counselling, more women’s shelters and legal tightening of the rules.
When women experience violence, you can contact organizations such as the White Ring or the telephone to “violence against women” by the Federal Agency for family and civilian-social tasks. The help phone provides you with a first support: round-the-clock, anonymous, in 17 languages. The Call come from all educational and income levels, nationalities, and religions. “Us women of all ages of us women with and without a migration background contact,” says Petra Söchting, Director of telephone help. “It is exactly the phenomenon of what we see everywhere else: violence against women can affect any woman.”
Me-Too campaign of courage
Last year alone, her organization has recorded 38,000 in consulting requests. In 60 percent of the calls concerned domestic violence. Including, there is always cases, “which are also for the consultants. The pursue you any longer.” For years, the calls to take. Söchting is the reason for the in an interview with Deutsche Welle, with the growing awareness of your organization and campaigns such as the Me-Too debate, which would have helped “to bring the issue of violence against women in the Public and to remove the taboos from it.” These campaigns showed how commonplace violence against women. “I think that it is Concerned falls therefore easier to report.”
Petra Söchting from the help phone “violence against women” between Chancellor Merkel and Minister of family Affairs Giffey
Agreed, the experts are largely in that you can turn to the protection of women in some set screws. There have been some improvements in the criminal law, however, were achieved in recent years, said Minister of justice Barley. “You can hardly imagine: Until about 20 years ago, rape was within marriage not punishable. We now have the principle of ‘no means no’ introduced to the sexual criminal law.” However, it should not make it women in the process so hard. “We know that many women, because they need to tell you so often.” This is an agonizing process. Barleys proposal: A one-time Video interview, which you can recycle again and again.
Risk due to traditional gender roles
As a further Central set screw in Germany, the traditional gender apply to the roles. “This high level of violence against women that we have here, is an expression of the fact that there is still an inequality between men and women,” says Petra Söchting. You do not have so far succeeded that women had equal footing in all social matters.
Dominic carpenter of the auxiliary organization White Ring even speaks of a social imprinting, “which ascribes to man a type of ruler role in the own four walls.” It AIDS the risk that he may exercise his Power under the circumstances with violence. So Germany is a macho country? Carpenter revealing assessment: “Maybe Germany is even not so modern as regards understanding of the role and traditional role stereotypes.”