In Germany, there is a differentiated support system for women affected by violence. This support system includes women's shelters and women's shelters as well as specialist advice centres, which include women's advice centres, women's emergency hotlines, intervention centres for domestic and sexualised violence or stalking, as well as helplines such as the nationwide Helpline “Violence against Women”.
The support system is aimed at all women who experience violence, no matter when and in what form, regardless of age, disability, educational level, sexual identity, social status, or ethnic origin. For the children affected, there are age- and gender-specific support services available. Social environments and professionals also receive support.
The aim is to protect women from violence, to support them in overcoming the psychological, physical, social and economic consequences of violence and to reduce violence against women in society.
Despite the differentiated support system, care for women and their children affected by violence is not adequately secured. Services vary greatly from region to region; in many places, there is a lack of human resources and material resources, and there is no regular funding. Read more on the Financing the assistance system. To date, a uniform legal framework is still lacking. Therefore, FHK is advocating for a legal right people affected by violence to protection and help in the event of violence.
Federal Government report on the situation of women's shelters, specialist counselling centres and other support services for women affected by violence and their children, published by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Berlin 2012.
The following federal associations are members of the Women’s Shelter Coordination Association
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