The Act on Assistance Against Violence, passed by the Bundestag on January 31, 2025, represents a significant step towards implementing the Istanbul Convention and the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Starting in 2032, it ensures an individual legal right to free protection and counseling for women and their children affected by violence, regardless of health, place of residence, residency status, or language skills.
Important points:
Financing: The federal government will contribute 2,6 billion euros to the financing of the assistance system until 2036.
Implementation: The federal states are responsible for implementation and must conduct needs analyses before 2027.
Carrier recognition: Recognized providers will be entitled to appropriate public funding from 2027.
Legal claim: The legal right to protection and advice comes into force in 2032.
Statistics and evaluation: Federal statistics on the use of the facilities will be collected starting in 2028, and an evaluation of the law is planned eight years after it comes into force.
The law aims to create a reliable assistance system that ensures prevention, protection and counseling for those affected and promotes cooperation between specialized and general assistance services.
Frauenhauskoordinierung eV explains the law in detail in the PDF below.
Quality recommendations
Current women's shelter statistics
