Family court proceedings mean a lot for women affected by violence. and their children This is an emotional and often existential burden. To this day, the structural separation between domestic violence, child protection, and family court proceedings persists. These three systems – also referred to as the "three planets" – follow different logics and priorities. This leads to uncoordinated action, gaps in protection, and new risks for those affected.
Professionals in women's shelters, specialist advice centers, refuge apartments and intervention centers are thus faced with the challenge of ensuring protection without getting lost in the conflicting requirements of different systems.
Attitude and perspective of the work aid
The new work aid The publication “Accompanying. Empowering. Protecting. Legal proceedings & protection against violence against women – What professionals should know about protection against violence, family law and child protection in cases of domestic violence” by Frauenhauskoordinierung eV is based on a clear perspective of those affected and assumes that domestic violence and partnership violence are structural forms of violence with overall societal power relations.
The protection of women and children is central – especially where family relationships can lead to further escalation. Key concepts are used from a violence- and gender-specific perspective. Violence is not understood as an isolated incident, but as a systemically relevant phenomenon that can also affect intersectional practices and legal processes.
Target group and objective
This guide is aimed at professionals working in the field of violence prevention and protection for women – in particular, staff in women's shelters, specialist counseling centers, safe houses, and intervention centers. It is based on the following principle: Acting professionally with a focus on protection, impartiality and human rights as guiding principles.
The aim is to present legal frameworks, legal texts, and practical fundamental knowledge of procedural law in family, criminal, and civil law in an easily understandable way – especially for non-lawyers. Despite numerous publications on the topic, a concise, practical compilation tailored to the specific information needs of those providing support and guidance has been lacking. This guide is therefore intended as a tool to help with information gathering, referrals as needed, and professional support.
Structure of the work aid
This guide addresses key questions and challenges faced by professionals, focusing on protection from violence, custody and visitation rights, and child protection. An introductory chapter provides general information on court proceedings. The core of the guide is practical knowledge for professionals, presented in the form of explanatory texts, overview tables, counseling guidelines, and appendices with templates and examples. as well as worksheets for use in everyday consulting practice.
The work aid is now available for download:
Quality recommendations
Current women's shelter statistics
