February 27, 2026, is Equal Pay Day – a day that symbolically marks the gender pay gap in Germany, which most recently stood at 16 percent. This means that, statistically, women work for free until the end of February, while men have been paid for their work since the beginning of the year. The gender pay gap has a direct impact on the safety and self-determination of women, particularly in situations of violence.
Financial dependency as a risk factor for violence
Women who are financially dependent on their partners have a significantly harder time leaving an abusive relationship. The 2024 women's shelter statistics from the Women's Shelter Coordination Association (FHK) show that almost one in four women had to pay for their stay in a women's shelter partially or entirely themselves – with daily rates between €10 and €100 per person, this is a critical obstacle for many. Fourteen out of every 100 women return to abusive situations after leaving a women's shelter – half of them only stayed for a few days.
After leaving a women's shelter, two-thirds of the women are receiving social benefits – before their stay, it was 39 percent. The proportion of employed women drops from 23 percent to 16 percent during their stay. This shows that the path out of an abusive relationship currently leads many women into poverty.
The gender pay gap and the gender care gap exacerbate dependencies.
Women perform the majority of unpaid care work. It is estimated that they contribute around 72 billion hours of care work, including housework, in Germany each year – mostly in addition to paid employment. This leads to part-time work, mini-jobs, career breaks, and thus, in the long term, to lower incomes, weaker social security, and increased poverty in old age.
These structural disadvantages increase dependence on the partner. When women lack their own secure income, cannot find reliable childcare, and fear social decline, separation from an abusive partner becomes an existential threat.
Equality policy has a preventive effect
Effective equality policies are therefore crucial for protecting against violence. Higher incomes, fair working conditions, reliable support structures, and a just distribution of care work reduce dependencies – they strengthen self-determination, scope for action, and thus the safety of women and their children.
This is also underscored by a recent study from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ): “Economic Independence Promotes Equality” shows that economic independence is a fundamental prerequisite for genuine equality – and thus for effective protection against violence. The findings are available, and the recommendations have been formulated.
The FHK (Federal Association of Victims of Violence) calls on Federal Family Minister Karin Prien to submit these recommendations from her ministry's own study to the Federal Cabinet for implementation. Women must be able to leave an abusive partner without fear of financial ruin through consistent equality policies – for example, addressing the gender pay gap, the gender care gap, and ensuring a living wage. Protection against violence and equality policies are only effective when combined.
Quality recommendations
Current women's shelter statistics
