One in three women has been affected by violence at least once in her life

adminonNovember 2, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

One in three women has been affected by violence at least once in her life

Violence against women continues to rise © Tiko Aramyan (shutterstock)

On the "International Day against Violence against Women", Federal Family Minister Giffey (SPD) calls the current figures "alarming". In 2018, more than 114.000 women have been victims of domestic violence.

For 2018, the Federal Criminal Court has released the "Criminal Statistical Evaluation of Partnership Violence". According to the statistics, a woman is dangerously injured by her partner more than once an hour. In the past year, a total of 140.755 people have been victims of attempted and completed violence. In 2017, there were still 138.893. At 81 percent, women are most affected.

114.000 women victims of domestic violence

German Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) presented the figures in Berlin today, Monday, which she called "very alarming". In all, he said, more than 114.000 women to be victims of domestic violence or threats. It is amed that the number of unreported cases is much higher, as not all cases are reported to the police.

In cases of rape, sexual assault and sexual assault in partnerships, he said, 98.4 percent of victims are female. In the case of threats, stalking, and coercion in relationships, 88.5 percent of the victims are women; in the case of intentional, simple bodily harm, 79.9 percent of the victims are women; and in the case of murder and manslaughter in relationships, 77 percent of the victims are women. Also covered are deprivation of liberty, pimping and forced prostitution.

Violence occurs in all social classes

Statistics show 122 women killed by their partner or former partner in 2018, up from 147 in 2017. According to dark field studies, every third woman is affected by violence once in her life. This violence occurs in all social classes, age groups and also ethnic groups, emphasized Giffey.

The Federal Minister for Family Affairs is therefore launching the "Stronger than Violence" initiative with the aim of encouraging affected women and men to seek support and making the support services better known. It belongs so far to 13 organizations. According to her, 120 million euros will flow into the expansion of capacities in women's shelters over the next four years.

"Together against violence against women"

With the funding program "Together against Violence against Women," the minister wants to provide an additional 120 million euros over the next four years, starting in 2020, to expand counseling centers and women's shelters. Currently, he said, there are just under 7 in women's shelters.000 places, 20 are necessary.000.

Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) called it a "disgusting phenomenon" in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" when attempts are made to target women via sexualized insults. People often say, "You mustn't be so sensitive, it's part of freedom of expression. When someone calls me the F-word, it no longer has anything to do with freedom of expression. This is simply an insult."

Women should support each other more

The minister also said she would like to see women in general supporting each other even more. She also referred to professional areas that are currently not very child-friendly. Germany, however, is on the right path, for example, there is a legal right to daycare places. "What is still missing is an entitlement to all-day schools at primary school age."

Ranging from verbal humiliation to rape and murder. Violence against women has many facets. In Latin America, a toxic cocktail of power, machismo and poverty is exacerbating the situation. This is where today's International Day Against Violence Against Women has a special meaning.

"They attacked me, beat me and took away important documents. Because they were masked, I could not recognize them." Cristina Auerbach Benavides should be taught a "lesson" on that summer day in 2007. The theologian and human rights activist was caught in the crossfire of powerful interests because she campaigned for the rights of the mostly female family members of the 65 miners killed in a mining accident in the Mexican state of Coahuila in February2006. Since then, the Catholic woman has been subjected to repeated attempts at intimidation and regularly receives threatening phone calls. Open brutality, on the other hand, is demonstrated by the "feminicidios," murders of women, with which the city of Ciudad Juarez on the border with the United States has achieved sad international fame. It is thanks to the efforts of artists such as actress Jane Fonda that the world is talking about the more than 400 unsolved, mostly sexually motivated murders of women in the last 15 years. "As a sign of recognition", Esther Chavez Cano therefore also understands the gesture of the Mexican government, which awarded the 78-year-old this year's National Human Rights Award last week. Chavez Cano is honored for her work on behalf of the vulnerable women of Ciuaded Juarez at the Casa Amiga women's shelter, which she runs. "The state is doing something" Women's rights activist Cristina Auerbach is skeptical of such honors. Often they aimed only at the message, "the state does yes what". But she welcomes the award for Chavez because it keeps the many unsolved murder cases in the public eye. However, it should not be overlooked that the less brutal forms of sexual harassment are a mass phenomenon. It is particularly common in the workplace. But women could do little to counter this through official channels. One reason: "The unions are firmly dominated by men". Disproportionate violence against women is not limited to Mexico. Non-governmental organizations in neighboring Guatemala have reported more than 400 murders of women this year alone, compared to 590 in 2007. Capital crimes are also piling up in tiny Costa Rica: According to official data, 13 "feminicidios" were already registered there in the first half of 2008, compared to 17 in all of 2007. There is also alarming news from Argentina, where human rights activists have registered 92 murders of women this year. When men see their livelihood threatened Auerbach sees the causes of this threatening trend in the poverty and lack of perspective that affect many people. Mexico, he said, is a country of contrasts, "where the majority of people, whether men or women, have few rights and few opportunities to succeed". The emancipation of women in the labor market is not the least of the challenges. "When women penetrate men's domains, as has happened in recent years, men naturally see their power and even their existence threatened."It is true that violence against women is widespread worldwide, adds Esther Chavez Cano. But in Latin American countries like Mexico, the problem is particularly virulent, he says. In the mixture of impunity for the perpetrators, corruption, macho culture and poverty, she fears, "the suffering of women will not stop anytime soon, despite all the days of action.".

Neo-Nazis suddenly cause trouble in Sulfeld, Schleswig-Holstein, last fall. Pastor Steffen Paar begins to get involved. His efforts have set things in motion in the village.

When Pastor Steffen Paar returns from his vacation last fall, he almost doesn't recognize his congregation. Neo-Nazis cause trouble in Sulfeld and have even beaten up a woman. Many residents of the 3.000-inhabitant villages in Schleswig-Holstein are afraid. The evangelical clergyman does not hesitate for long and begins to get involved. Among other things, it is thanks to his efforts that the situation has calmed down somewhat three months later. But no one in the village will forget what happened so quickly.

Attempt by far-right network

In order: In October, stickers with right-wing extremist slogans were suddenly emblazoned on signs, street lamps and bus stops in Sulfeld. As it turns out, a group around the neo-Nazi Bernd T, who is considered ready for violence, is behind it. behind, who shortly before moved back to his hometown, the nearby town of Bad Segeberg. He is trying to establish a right-wing extremist network and has gathered some supporters around him to do so, according to security authorities. Three of them live in Sulfeld at the time. When villagers organize a cleanup to scrape off the stickers, one of the neo-Nazis shows up. He sprays irritant gas in a man's face and knocks out a woman. The village falls into a kind of paralysis of shock.

When Paar learns of this, he publicly condemns the acts on the Facebook page of his church congregation. He writes to the e-mail address given on the stickers and offers the neo-Nazis a talk. One morning, he finds a sticker on his parsonage as well. On Reformation Day, the pastor pleads in his sermon for a tolerant and open society. Afterward, police say, some 250 Sulfeld residents marched through their village in a public walk to show they will not be intimidated. When they return to the church, the tires are slashed on four cars in the parking lot.

Talks with frightened villagers

Couple is not discouraged. He will speak at a rally in Bad Segeberg and serve hot drinks at the Sulfeld marketplace under the slogan "Brown coffee instead of brown sentiment". At the same time, he conducts pastoral counseling talks with frightened villagers.

For Paar, getting involved was not a big question. The 39-year-old, who styles his hair up and wears colorful sneakers, was previously considered a contrarian in his church. Some time ago, he already made a name for himself with the "Pastor to go" campaign, in which parishioners were able to "borrow" him for house and garden work, for example. The professedly homosexual clergyman made headlines when he married his life partner. On the door of the parsonage where they live together, there is now a colorful sign saying "Colorful not brown".

For his commitment against the right, he has received support from many people in Sulfeld, but also from his regional church. Even from Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) there was praise via Twitter for the commitment of the Sulfelder, who have organized numerous other actions since the incidents in October. However, Paar has also received criticism from the village. "Some people have said to me: You're going too far out on a limb." However, this did not deter the pastor: "As a church representative, I see it as my responsibility to show very clear edges," he says. Although he could not convert the right-wing extremists. "But I can provide clarity by calling a spade a spade, and help overcome fears".

Concert with Sebastian Krumbiegel

Despite several requests from Paar, there is no meeting with the neo-Nazis. Although Bernd T. back to him, and the two even make an appointment. "But he canceled that one half an hour before," the pastor reports disappointedly. Couple chats with other right-wingers on the internet instead. "That helped me understand their attitude," he says. "I still do not share this ideology, but these people have the same concerns as we do: the family, the children, their own well-being."

In the meantime, one of the three neo-Nazis is in custody because he was involved in a brawl elsewhere; another woman has moved away from Sulfeld. "A follower of the scene continues to live here, but is not conspicuous," says Paar. In the village in the meantime a "healthy serenity" had returned.

A reason to retire, however, he said, was not. In his sermons, Paar wants to continue to promote peaceful coexistence. In February, he plans a concert in his church under the motto "Colorful Future" with Sebastian Krumbiegel, the singer of the band "Die Prinzen". He would also like to organize regular discussion meetings. "A lot of things have come up in the village as a result of dealing with the ie of right-wing extremism. People who didn't know each other before suddenly talk to each other. I would like to continue this."

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