The digitalization of violence in local communities has profound implications for counseling services within the support system. How can the support system be strengthened in light of this? The FHK information sheet "Digital (Ex-)Partner Violence in Women's Shelters" answers this question.
Briefly and clearly presented, it addresses the following topics:
The Handout is aimed at professionals from violence protection and related professional fields, political decision-makers and journalists.
To download: FHK info sheet on digital violence
In the week of March 17-21, 2025, the Women's Shelter Coordination Association (FHK) organized a campaign on digital violence on social media.
The social media campaign focuses on current statistics on digital violence and addresses various aspects relevant to holistic counseling in women's shelters. Specifically, the materials provide information on:
The content for download you can find here.
How can the risk of digital violence be assessed when a victim contacts a service provider? And what exactly is the difference between an app, a cloud, and a device?
The two focal points “Risk analysis” and “Difference between app, cloud and device” of the five Explanatory videos are now available as Info graphics is available for storage, management and analysis.
The graphics illustrate the most important aspects of risk analysis and explain the difference between an app, a cloud, and a device in a few words.
Feel free to use the infographics as posters next to the telephone in your team rooms or have them available as additional support during client intake and consultation sessions.
You can find the infographic “Difference between App, Cloud and Device” here as a PDF for self-printing:
To receive the infographic on the topic of “Risk Analysis,” please send us an email request to:
digitale-gewalt(at)frauenhauskoordinierung.de
What does location protection actually mean? What do Bluetooth trackers have to do with it? And what exactly is the difference between a device, an app, and a cloud? FHK has now produced explanatory videos on these and many other fascinating questions surrounding the topic of digital violence!
The videos are intended to help improve protection against digital violence and provide effective support to those affected. They are helpful for staff in women's shelters and for those affected by digital violence.
Four of the five videos are publicly available on the FHK YouTube channel accessibleAccess to the fifth video will be granted to all institutions that have FHK Info Service have subscribed.
The videos are recorded in German, but offer subtitles in English, Arabic, Turkish and Russian.
The illustrations from the "Media Rules in Women's Shelters" poster can be downloaded free of charge and used independently of the poster, e.g., to mark rooms where mobile phone use or photography are prohibited, or to permit video calls.
The drawings may help residents remember the rules they know from the poster in the relevant rooms.
There are countless ways you can use the graphics online and offline.
All illustrations for free download can be found here.
How can digital media be used safely in women's shelters? Digital media is deeply embedded in the everyday lives of women's shelter residents—both children and adults. Rules regarding media use in women's shelters are often a matter of negotiation and a balancing act between digital participation and potential digital dangers.
With the poster "Media Rules in Women's Shelters," we invite professionals to participate in developing media rules with children and young people living in the shelter. From a total of 12 suggested rules, women's shelter staff can select the rules that apply to their shelter. They can also create their own rules. The rules can be placed on a poster, and then small workshops with children and adult residents can be held to discuss why these rules are important for life in the shelter. Detailed pedagogical instructions for working with the poster serve as support.
To download:
The materials can Download free of charge here and printed out.
For the report "Residents' Perspectives on Protection from Digital Violence in Women's Shelters," qualitative interviews were conducted with current and former women's shelter residents. The adult residents reported on the forms of digital violence they experienced, as well as their experiences and needs for support in the women's shelter. Children and adolescents described their perceptions of the protective measures against digital violence in the women's shelter.
The report was created as part of the FHK project “Protection against digital violence including data security in women’s shelters.”
To download: Report “Residents’ Perspectives on Protection from Digital Violence in Women’s Shelters”
With the educational series #SafeAndSelf-Determined FHK has developed digital materials that women's shelters and specialist counseling centers can use for their public relations work. The materials address questions such as:
To download: All infographics, SharePics and other materials from the #SafeAndSelfDetermined series
The protection concept for women's shelters developed by FHK provides practical tips, guidelines, and information for professionals to ensure protection against digital violence in women's shelters. The protection concept is intended to raise awareness of the risks associated with digital media and data and increase data protection in women's shelters. The goal is to provide the best possible support to victims of digital violence and to enable the safe use of digital media in women's shelters without endangering residents, staff, or the site.
The protection concept is from 2019 to 2022 as part of the FHK project “Protection against digital violence including data security in women's shelters“ It can be obtained from women’s shelters from the FHK membership upon request at the email address digitale-gewalt(at)frauenhauskoordinierung.de can be requested.
Women's shelters and specialist counseling centers often lack the capacity to adequately ensure protection against digital violence in women's shelters and to address the diverse stresses associated with violence experienced by those affected.
In a paper of demands, FHK appeals to the federal and state governments to fulfill their obligations under the Istanbul Convention and specifies what is necessary for effective protection against digital violence.
To download:
Domestic violence is increasingly perpetuated online and/or through digital means. Given the rapid pace of technological advancements, victims often feel left alone or not taken seriously.
The FHK specialist information on digital violence examines how digitalization impacts intimate partner violence and how politics, the judiciary, and support services can more effectively support victims of digital violence.
To download: FHK specialist information: Digital violence | No. 02/2021
On 5 October 2022, the FHK project “Protection against digital violence including data security in women's shelters“. Around 130 participants from professional practice addressed the question,how awareness-raising and practical protective measures against digital violence can be implemented in women's shelters.
To document the event, short videos with the speakers of the conference were created.
Click here to go to Documentation of the symposium “Safe and Self-Determined” .
The following federal associations are members of the Women’s Shelter Coordination Association
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