Violence against women
Violence against women is not the individual problem of individual women, but a manifestation of the historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of women's full advancement..
Definition of violence
Violence against women
- is a human rights violation and a form of discrimination against women.
- refers to all acts of violence that result in, or are likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private spaces.
  Domestic violence
- refers to all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim.
- The term "domestic violence" must generally be regarded critically, since it disguises, neutralises and does not mention violence against women. "Domestic violence" as a term has since become firmly established across institutions, but it does not take account of the sociopolitical dimension of violence against women.
 Gender
- is defined as the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men.
 Gender-based violence against women
- refers to all violence directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately.
Femicide
- is the intentional killing of a woman on the basis of an alleged infringement of traditional and normative gender role expectations.
Violence against women takes many forms
- physical violence
- mental violence
- sexualised violence
- economic violence
- stalking
- women trafficking
- forced marriage
- genital mutilation
- structural violence and disadvantage in society
- etc.
Studies on the issue:
- Lebenssituation, Sicherheit und Gesundheit von Frauen in Deutschland, BMFSFJ, 2004: https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/84316/10574a0dff2039e15a9d3dd6f9eb2dff/kurzfassung-gewalt-frauen-data.pdf
- Violence against women: an EU-wide survey, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2014: https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2014-vaw-survey-at-a-glance-oct14_de.pdf
The wheel of violence
Violence against children and young people
Yes, I thought it was good that I had someone to talk to. When I had problems, I could tell her everything.
Definition of violence
Violence against women
- is a human rights violation and a form of discrimination against women.
- refers to all acts of violence that result in, or are likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private spaces.
  Domestic violence
- refers to all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim.
- The term "domestic violence" must generally be regarded critically, since it disguises, neutralises and does not mention violence against women. "Domestic violence" as a term has since become firmly established across institutions, but it does not take account of the sociopolitical dimension of violence against women.
 Gender
- is defined as the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men.
 Gender-based violence against women
- refers to all violence directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately.
Femicide
- is the intentional killing of a woman on the basis of an alleged infringement of traditional and normative gender role expectations.
Most of the children seeking shelter with their mothers are themselves affected by physical, mental and/or sexualised violence or have witnessed, seen or heard acts of violence being perpetrated on their mothers day after day, sometimes for months or years on end. Many national and international studies have demonstrated that the witnessing of partnership violence constitutes a form of endangerment of the welfare of the child and makes the children just as much victims of violence as their mothers. The violence they experience has a deep and lasting impact on the development and maturity of the child. The confidence and the feelings of safety and security felt by these children are profoundly shaken.
For these children, an escape to a women's refuge represents a radical change from their life so far, and one that has many consequences. They are leaving their familiar environment, their fathers, relatives, school or nursery and friends behind. They have to get used to a strange environment.
At the same time, they experience a tangible sense of relief that they themselves and their mothers are no longer exposed to the violence of the father. Many children only develop feelings of safety, relaxation and the absence of fear for the first time in the women's refuge. Meeting other children helps them realise that violence does not just happen in their own family and is not something they alone have had to bear.
For these children, an escape to a women's refuge represents a radical change from their life so far, and one that has many consequences. They are leaving their familiar environment, their fathers, relatives, school or nursery and friends behind. They have to get used to a strange environment.
At the same time, they experience a tangible sense of relief that they themselves and their mothers are no longer exposed to the violence of the father. Many children only develop feelings of safety, relaxation and the absence of fear for the first time in the women's refuge. Meeting other children helps them realise that violence does not just happen in their own family and is not something they alone have had to bear.
Qualified educators are available in the women's refuges to provide a point of contact for children and young people. The staff are unequivocally on the side of the children and will help them express and put forward their interests and needs towards other people and institutions. The staff in the children sections of the women's refuges see themselves as advocates for the children. This applies both for the specific work with the children and young people and their mothers in the women's refuge and at the level of public relations, cooperation and networking in the interests of children and young people affected by domestic violence.
Children and young people affected by violence need
Further information can be found in the brochure:
Frauenhaus ein guter Ort fĂŒr Kinder
or at:
sorge-umgangsrecht-gewalt.de/
Children and young people affected by violence need
- sensitive specialists who are familiar with the issue of domestic violence and know the difficult and ambivalent situations in which the children find themselves
- the violent father to take responsibility for his actions
- the violent father to be willing to change
- the commitment of the violent father to create a safe and reliable framework for access, for instance
Further information can be found in the brochure:
Frauenhaus ein guter Ort fĂŒr Kinder
or at:
sorge-umgangsrecht-gewalt.de/
Istanbul Convention
The aim of the Istanbul Convention is to prevent, prosecute and eliminate gender-based and domestic violence, provide comprehensive support for those affected and promote equality between the genders.
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
hereinafter: Istanbul Convention:
The Istanbul Convention is a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe aimed at combating gender-based violence against women and girls. It has been in force in Germany since February 2018, but unfortunately still with provisos regarding the rights of migrants. It lays down an obligation to take comprehensive measures to prevent and sanction violence and protect against violence. Implementation of the Convention requires a holistic concept that is continuously reviewed and monitored. However, so far Germany lacks the structures to do so. (Source: Press release by the BĂŒndnis Istanbul-Konvention, September 2019).
With its entry into force on 1 February 2018, the Istanbul Convention obliges all levels of government in Germany, i.e. federal government, states and local authorities, to effectively combat and prevent violence against women and domestic violence. Those affected by gender-based violence must be given comprehensive support and compensation. Under international law, it is immaterial for Germany's obligation to implement the Convention what the federal structure is and how the competencies are distributed internally. (cf. Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 23 May 1969).
Further information can be found in our brochure on the Istanbul Convention and additional documents
Convention text:
https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=0900001680462535
Further information can be found in our brochure on the Istanbul Convention and additional documents
Convention text:
https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=0900001680462535
Funding for women's refuges
The autonomous women's refuges call for the model of case-by-case financing (day rate financing) to be replaced by a mechanism for funding of women's refuges that is demand-led and independent of individual cases and is enshrined in federal law, so that it applies to all states.
How women's refuges are funded
There have been women's refuges in Germany since 1976. Their funding since then has been unregulated and inadequate. How a women's refuge is resourced with staff and premises depends essentially on the political will of the local authority and relevant federal state. As yet â apart from a state law in Schleswig-Holstein â there is no legislation that secures funding. Closely related to the question of how women's refuges are funded is access to shelter and assistance for women affected by violence and their children. The more complicated and cumbersome this access is, the less effective it can be. Rapid, hassle-free admission to a women's refuge can save the lives of women and children, who may be put in danger if admission is not granted.
- Only federal regulation can ensure binding laws giving equal access to the refuges across the country.
- Only the flat funding of women's refuges can ensure that all women affected by violence and their children get safe, rapid and hassle-free access to protection and demand-led support in the women's refuge of their choice.
That is why autonomous women's refuges are calling for women's refuges to be funded according to a 3-pillar model:
Further information on the issue of women's refuge funding and the 3-pillar model can be found in our brochure and other documents:
Custody and access rights
Separations are particularly stressful for many children precisely because the danger to their physical integrity often escalates even further during the emotionally damaging separation phases in relationships with domestic violence.
Since the German Family Matters Act (FamFG) was reformed in 2009, the situation for women affected by violence and their children after separation has become even more dangerous. The principles of priority and expediting proceedings enshrined in the FamFG are proving to be particularly problematic . These state that the hearing in custody and access proceedings is to take place not more than one month after the commencement of proceedings, at which hearing initial decisions on access may have to be taken. The option of suspending access is rarely utilised.
It has been proven, however, that the period immediately before and after separation from a violent man is the most dangerous time for women and their children. Assaults are a frequent occurrence, even when children are being delivered for access visits. "Men who feel rejected (âŠ) as a result of separation or divorce develop a dangerous mix of hurt, anger and willingness to use violence." (Source: Schröttle, M./MĂŒller, U./Glammeier, S. (2004): Lebenssituationen, Sicherheit und Gesundheit von Frauen in Deutschland.) That is why the majority of violent assaults and murders of women and children occur during this period.
It has been proven, however, that the period immediately before and after separation from a violent man is the most dangerous time for women and their children. Assaults are a frequent occurrence, even when children are being delivered for access visits. "Men who feel rejected (âŠ) as a result of separation or divorce develop a dangerous mix of hurt, anger and willingness to use violence." (Source: Schröttle, M./MĂŒller, U./Glammeier, S. (2004): Lebenssituationen, Sicherheit und Gesundheit von Frauen in Deutschland.) That is why the majority of violent assaults and murders of women and children occur during this period.
In cases of domestic violence, certain requirements need to be met before the father can be allowed access. "An access arrangement must always be beneficial to the child's interests. This includes the order for accompanied access or exclusion of contact pursuant to section 156 (3) sentence 2 FamFG. In the context of domestic violence this can, for instance, come into consideration in the case of violence against the carer/child or access against the will of the child."
(Source: https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/93728/ddf0bb44235e207056818876f794767f/famfgfamiliensachen-arbeitshilfe-data.pdf, S.20.)
The right to contact between the parent with access rights and the child must give way to the fundamental right to physical and mental/spiritual integrity.
That is why the autonomous women's refuges are calling for Safety First: Safe Access to Access World Children's Day 2013 flyer
Further information can be found in the brochure:
Kindeswohl im Fokus SUÌD AG
or at:
http://sorge-umgangsrecht-gewalt.de/
(Source: https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/93728/ddf0bb44235e207056818876f794767f/famfgfamiliensachen-arbeitshilfe-data.pdf, S.20.)
The right to contact between the parent with access rights and the child must give way to the fundamental right to physical and mental/spiritual integrity.
That is why the autonomous women's refuges are calling for Safety First: Safe Access to Access World Children's Day 2013 flyer
Further information can be found in the brochure:
Kindeswohl im Fokus SUÌD AG
or at:
http://sorge-umgangsrecht-gewalt.de/
Brief information about abortion
The Central Information Centre for Autonomous Women's Shelters (Zentrale Informationsstelle Autonomer FrauenhÀuser) has been one of Germany's feminist voices for more than 40 years and is committed to continuing to fully engage in this role at the national level. This includes the commitment to the right to bodily autonomy. We want to do our part to destigmatize abortion and support women to make self-determined decisions; as we believe, My Body, My Choice.
Right now, women and their bodies are once again increasingly the battlefield of conservative and right-wing forces. Therefore, we view our demand for bodily autonomy as a political one that is directed against traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Even though the Federal Government decided to delete §219a in June 2022, the need for the fight for more reproductive justice remains. Given that §218 StGB maintains abortion as a criminal offense, the current law contradicts our understanding of bodily autonomy. Therefore, we have decided to share information from ProFamilia regarding abortion options and other related information:
https://www.profamilia.de/fileadmin/publikationen/ePub/kurzinfo_schwangerschaftsabbruch_englisch/html5.html#/1
Right now, women and their bodies are once again increasingly the battlefield of conservative and right-wing forces. Therefore, we view our demand for bodily autonomy as a political one that is directed against traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Even though the Federal Government decided to delete §219a in June 2022, the need for the fight for more reproductive justice remains. Given that §218 StGB maintains abortion as a criminal offense, the current law contradicts our understanding of bodily autonomy. Therefore, we have decided to share information from ProFamilia regarding abortion options and other related information:
https://www.profamilia.de/fileadmin/publikationen/ePub/kurzinfo_schwangerschaftsabbruch_englisch/html5.html#/1