Federal President Steinmeier discusses: A clear signal against violence!

Federal President Steinmeier discusses: A clear signal against violence!

At a time when the topic of domestic violence is increasingly coming into focus, the exchange between experts is of great importance. The visit of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Neuruppin made the urgency of this problem clear. He spoke to family judge Constanze Zahlbaum, who has been working at the Neuruppin District Court since 2019 and has been responsible for family matters since 2020. Violence, often unnoticed, is a constant companion in her proceedings, as she explained in an interview. Around 70 percent of the cases revolved around custody and access issues with children, although experiences of violence are often not disclosed. Many women fear for their custody if they raise the issue of violence, and society's exclusionary attitude does not help to improve matters.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has actively addressed the problem of violence against women and children in recent years. A specialist conference took place in December 2022 that discussed local approaches to taking domestic violence into account when regulating care and access issues. It was emphasized that the safety of affected parents and children must be the top priority. Ekin Deligöz, Parliamentary State Secretary, confirmed the need to fully implement the Istanbul Convention, which has been in force in Germany since 2018. This convention requires violent incidents to be taken into account when making decisions about custody and visitation, which should make such procedures more transparent and safer in the future.

The challenge in rural areas

The situation is particularly challenging in rural regions, where perpetrators and victims often live in the same social environment. Zahlbaum appeals for the importance of further training for judges and lawyers in order to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence. The mostly hidden experiences of violence must no longer be ignored, and mediation - often part of the solution - also has its limits here. In such cases, perpetrators are often not prepared to take responsibility, and psychologist Michaela Rönnefahrt from the women's shelter made it clear that more anti-violence training is required, but is ordered far too rarely.

A nationwide research project, which has been funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs since November 2021, has already published results on local case studies. This should help to recognize the importance of structural change. New approaches to security and protection against violence are required so that not only the rights of the violent parent are preserved, but at the same time the safety of mothers and children is not endangered. This shows that many legal decisions can increase the psychological stress on affected children and young people, who often become perpetrators or victims themselves.

The role of the Istanbul Convention

The Istanbul Convention has created clear guidelines that will also be of great importance in future legal proceedings. If there are signs of violence, family courts must focus on the safety of everyone involved. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has emphasized that when making custody decisions, a balance must be struck between the fundamental rights of all parents and children, which is consistent with Article 31 of the Convention. It becomes clear here that legal innovations and a rethink in society are necessary in order to resolve violent conflicts constructively and to give the victims a voice.

The analysis of the current issues surrounding domestic violence in Germany shows how important it is to initiate a rethink not only in the courts, but also in society as a whole. The challenges are great, but with will and clarity it is possible to bring about change.