Brandenburg is fighting against domestic violence: More women's shelters in sight!

Brandenburg is fighting against domestic violence: More women's shelters in sight!

In an urgent appeal, Women's and Equal Opportunities Minister Britta Müller (non-party) called for more support for women's shelters at the Equal Opportunities Ministers' Conference in Essen. Brandenburg would like to receive additional investment from the federal government for the construction of new women's shelters and the modernization of existing facilities. These measures are necessary to meet the increasing demands on protection and advice centers. According to a report by maz-online.de The federal government also plans to make funds amounting to 2.6 billion euros available from 2032 to support the implementation of the Violence Relief Act, which is to be implemented in the individual federal states by 2027.

There are currently 17 women's shelters in Brandenburg with a total of 298 places, as well as four shelters and three advice centers. Nevertheless, reality shows that in 2022 around 112 women could not be admitted to a women's shelter, which indicates an acute lack of space. Women with pets or those affected by addictions are particularly affected. In this regard, Catrin Seeger, head of the women's shelter in Rathenow, has called for more support.

The need for intervention projects

In order to combat the acute threat to women, two pilot projects for intervention work are to be launched. These are intended to support women within 24 hours, even if they are not looking for a place in a women's shelter. Statistics show that domestic violence is a growing problem: In 2024, 6,790 crimes related to domestic violence were registered in Brandenburg, an increase of 465 cases compared to the previous year. For many, access to quick and effective help is crucial, as more than 181,000 women in Germany were affected by domestic violence in 2023.

The “Violence against Women” helpline can be reached around the clock on the free number 116 016. On this hotline, those affected receive anonymous, confidential and barrier-free advice in 18 foreign languages. This is an indispensable offer that can help women even in stressful situations. In addition, the website offers Frauenhauskoordination.de Comprehensive information on how to find women's shelters and advice centers in Germany, including their accessibility and reception capacities.

Social challenges

The problem of violence against women is widespread and often remains hidden in the dark. Studies show that many of those affected do not report the crime out of fear, shame or because of social norms. Although the police regularly keep statistics on reported cases, the number of unreported cases is often much higher. Statista points out that women in Germany often appear in statistics as victims of domestic violence - in 2023, around 71% of the 256,000 victims were female.

Another goal of the equal opportunities ministers' current campaigns is to specifically target men and raise awareness about violence against women. There are also plans to launch an information campaign against misogynistic content on the Internet. These efforts are not only necessary, but also of fundamental importance in order to create long-term awareness of the issue and bring about changes in society.

In summary, it is time to take the voices of those affected seriously and work together on solutions. The need for additional places in women's shelters and the implementation of new support services are just some of the steps that need to be taken to support women in need.