Berlin, May 31.05.2021, XNUMX. Support for women and their children affected by violence is not guaranteed across the board in Germany, is often fraught with obstacles, and is characterized by enormous regional differences. For many years, FHK has therefore been advocating for a legal right to protection and assistance in the event of violence, which should create equal conditions nationwide and reliably secure the funding of the assistance system. FHK has reiterated this in a Position paper formulated.
Whether and under what conditions women who experience violence find protection depends largely on the region in which they seek support. Disabilities In some federal states, there is no need-based protection service. Furthermore, the funding of shelters is not only inconsistent but in many places inadequate and voluntary. Those affected often have to cover part or even all of the costs of support themselves. In 2019, almost every second woman contributed to the costs of her stay in a women's shelter.
The legal right to protection and assistance advocated by the Federal Association of Refugees (FHK) is intended to pave the way for equal support for all affected persons nationwide, facilitate unbureaucratic access to protection, and enable those seeking assistance to legally assert their claims. To adequately address the extremely diverse living conditions and needs of those affected, this legal right should be enshrined in a separate federal law.
For the first time, the federal government, a majority of the federal states and the leading municipal associations spoke out in favor of federal legislation at the round table “Together against violence against women” last week. This was announced in a Position paper of the Round Table published. FHK welcomes this important decision and calls for its timely and consistent implementation with the involvement of the assistance system.
"The fact that the majority of representatives from all three levels of government support a federal law regulating access to protection and counseling in cases of violence is a very significant step, one we have been advocating for for decades," said FHK Managing Director Heike Herold. "It is important that, despite the broad scope for action granted to the federal states, comparable support structures are implemented in all federal states. Otherwise, we fear a continuation of the current patchwork. And swift action must follow in the new legislative period of the Bundestag, and a legislative process must be initiated that incorporates the expertise of the support system. We cannot afford to let further years go by without adequate protection for women and girls from violence and femicide!"
Quality recommendations
Current women's shelter statistics
