Speech for March 8, 2026
As an employee of Autonomous Women's Shelter Lübeck I deal with people affected by patriarchal violence every day.
Aber die Wenigsten, die von häuslicher- oder Partnerschaftsgewalt betroffen sind, erstatten Anzeige. Die Anzeigequote in Deutschland liegt, nach der neuen Dunkelfeld-Studie LeSuBiA bei unter 5%. Und wenn sie es doch tun, endet diese Anzeige meistens nicht mit der Verurteilung des Täters. Warum?
- Because the violence happens behind closed doors and in private spaces where there are few witnesses or concrete evidence.
- Because there are no mandatory trainings on domestic violence for the judiciary and police.
Politics has finally recognized the urgency of protection for victims of domestic or partner violence:
Last year, the new in Germany Violence Assistance Act passed. This means that starting in 2032, there will be a nationwide legal right to help, protection, and counseling for female victims of violence and their children for the first time. By then, 12,000 additional women's shelter places must be created nationwide, for which the federal government is making 2.6 million euros available.
What specific new provisions does this violence protection law bring for women affected by violence?
- An individual legal claim to protection and advice starting in 2032
- The nationwide assurance of low-threshold access to support services
- The ability for all people affected by violence with a female gender marker to access support facilities nationwide, regardless of their place of residence.
- Free services regardless of income, origin, or residency status
- Binding Minimum Standards for Aid Facilities
That all sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That sounds like an improvement for victims of violence and their children?
Of course, expanding the capacity of women's shelters is desirable for us. Day after day, we have to turn away women and their children seeking protection because we no longer have space. In 2025 alone, 331 women with 383 children were turned away from our women's shelter, that's 60 people per month!
What we're still wondering, however, is: Why does the victim always have to leave? Why do women and children who are victims of violence through no fault of their own have to leave their homes, their daily lives, and their familiar surroundings? What about the perpetrators?
Moving into a women's shelter is a big step for victims of violence. Women and children often have to leave their homes, jobs, kindergarten/schools, sports clubs, social circles, and family structures to protect themselves from further violence by the perpetrator. Some have to change cities or even states to ensure their safety. The perpetrator remains comfortably and unhindered in their home, keeps their job, and is in no way affected by the violence they inflict.
Is that really adequate protection? We, the Autonomous Women's Shelters, say: No!
In our society, it is becoming normalized for victims of violence SICH must protect. It is normalized that victims must run away and hide, while perpetrators can continue their lives without consequences. This circumstance is in no way changed by the new violence support law.
Violence should not happen at all. This requires fundamental societal change, which can only be achieved through early prevention in schools and daycare centers, through perpetrator work with those who commit violence, and through mandatory training for the judiciary and police!
Women, their children, and TIN* individuals need a system that protects them from patriarchal violence. However, women's shelter staff observe a system of shifting blame, distrust towards those affected, negligence, and a lack of professional expertise in custody and visitation rights proceedings, or: a system that enables patriarchal violence and femicides.
We demand a societal shift where victims of patriarchal violence no longer have to flee to be safe. We demand a comprehensive strategy that is anchored in and implemented by laws, executive agencies, the judiciary, and civil society. Prevention is the basis for a non-violent society!
