Berlin, October 08, 2024. Over 14.200 women and around 16.000 children found refuge in women's shelters in Germany in 2023. This is according to the 2023 women's shelter statistics published today by the Women's Shelter Coordination Association (FHK). The FHK statistics are the only survey that provides nationwide data on women's shelters and their residents on an annual basis. The calculations for 2023 are based on information on 6.264 women and 7.043 children from 176 of the approximately 400 women's shelters in Germany.
More than a quarter of residents (28%) had to bear some or all of the costs of their stay themselves last year. FHK's women's shelter statistics also show that the percentage of women finding shelter near their homes has been steadily declining for years. While 54% of women found refuge in their own city or municipality in 2013, this figure had dropped to only 36% by 2023. At the same time, thousands of women seeking protection cannot be accommodated each year: According to a nationwide cost study , shelters had to turn away 16.382 women in 2022 alone due to a lack of space.
"These figures are alarming and demonstrate the urgent need for action. The Istanbul Convention and the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence from May of this year oblige Germany to provide comprehensive protection and non-discriminatory support to all women and girls affected by violence. Women continue to be disproportionately affected by gender-based and domestic violence," explains Christiane Völz, Chair of the FHK Board of Directors. "And there is still a shortage of more than 14.000 places in women's shelters nationwide. To ensure effective protection against violence, the Act on Assistance for Violence, promised in the coalition agreement, must be urgently implemented this year."
Special analysis: Cost sharing increases the risk of returning to a violent partner
In 2023, the average length of stay in a women's shelter was 73 days. The longest stays (145 days) were recorded by women who moved into a new apartment after leaving the shelter. One in four residents (24%) succeeded in doing so. In contrast, the shortest stays were recorded by women who had to contribute to the costs of their stay due to their income situation (e.g., no entitlement to social security benefits and/or their own income). This was also associated with a higher likelihood of returning to their violent partner. 16% of the residents surveyed took this step.
“Only with a legal right to free access to support can we prevent women from being forced to return to a violent relationship due to financial hardship or being forced into precarious living conditions,” emphasises FHK Managing Director Sibylle Schreiber.
Currently, there is no legal entitlement to protection and assistance in cases of violence in Germany. Despite rising rates of domestic violence, the funding for women's shelters remains inconsistent, often insecure, and precarious.
Women's Shelter Coordination therefore appeals to politicians to initiate the necessary steps for the federal law promised in the coalition agreement before the end of this year.
"It's time for politicians to put their money where their mouth is and take victim protection seriously, even beyond the sham debates about electronic ankle bracelets and criminal law," Schreiber continued. "The Assistance to Violence Act would be a decisive step toward strengthening the rights of women and children."
The women's shelter statistics for 2023 are available free of charge below in both a summary and full version.
Also read our open letter to the Federal Government : The announced law on violence assistance must now be passed!
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Current women's shelter statistics
