Protest against femicide: vigil in Bad Aibling on June 30th!

Protest against femicide: vigil in Bad Aibling on June 30th!

The week of action against violence against women and FLINTA people is gaining momentum in the Mangfalltal region. Carlotta Wittenberg from Rosenheim has launched an impressive campaign for June 30th, which consists of a bike ride from Rosenheim to Bad Aibling and a subsequent vigil at Marienplatz. With this initiative she wants to draw attention to the alarming rate of violence against women and other marginalized genders. In 2023 alone, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) counted 938 attempted or completed femicides in Germany - a number that cannot ignore the urgency of the issue. As Rosenheim24 reports, Wittenberg plans to create visibility with her vigil and remember the feminist history of the bicycle as a symbol of female self-determination to connect.

Wittenberg reacts to the worrying conditions not only from the perspective of personal concern, but also from a broad social context. Violence against women is often perceived as “private”, which makes this problem much more difficult to see. The call for more solidarity and an active look at violence in everyday life is therefore no coincidence. Wittenberg has received mixed feedback during her preparations, with men in particular often being defensive about the topic.

The purpose of the action

The bike tour starts on June 30th at 5:15 p.m. at the ice stadium in Rosenheim and ends an hour later in Bad Aibling. The vigil itself will be marked by a minute's silence, the raising of a banner and the laying of candles and flowers. Wittenberg is expecting around 20 participants and has planned more stewards just in case to ensure everything runs smoothly. The nationwide statistics show that structural inequality and violence against FLINTA people continue to place a heavy burden on society.

Another date is already on the calendar: On November 25th, the International Day against Violence against FLINTA people, Wittenberg is planning an action to collect regional experiences. The focus is on sparking a broader discussion about violence against women and other genders. This issue is not only a personal concern for many of those affected, but also a civil society challenge that the community should actively address.

Media reporting and social reactions

But it's not just the actions on site that are essential; The media landscape also plays a major role in the perception of violence against women. An analysis by Gender Equality Media shows that 97% of articles on violence against women use terms that trivialize violence. The term “femicide” appeared in only a few reports. Such inadequate media representations contribute to trivializing the violence and reducing awareness of the problem.

It is therefore essential that initiatives like Carlotta Wittenberg's receive not only local, but also regional and national support and attention. It becomes clear again and again that society is required to both take action and question existing structures. A rethink is necessary, not only in how we deal with those affected, but also in how the problem is presented in the media.