In the USA, an openly misogynistic man convicted of sexual abuse is elected president. The number of armed conflicts is rising to record levels[1] – and with it, systematic violence against women and girls in these regions. In Germany, violence against women is increasing[2] and, even in 2024, a quarter of Germans consistently hold anti-feminist views.[3] Yet instead of seriously addressing the problem, racist and classist prejudices are exploited and responsibilities are shifted elsewhere. Instead of prioritising violence against women on the political agenda and understanding it as a problem for society as a whole, concrete measures are blocked and women affected by violence are left in the lurch. Both at international and national levels, we must therefore conclude in 2024: violence against women is a pandemic that is not being recognised or addressed as such.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, we, as the Federal Association for Perpetrator Work in Domestic Violence (BAG TäH), call for a fundamental rethink in society. We cannot and must no longer analyse symptoms while ignoring the causes. We must invest in violence prevention instead of expanding criminal prosecution. We must promote gender-sensitive education instead of manifesting patriarchal violence and sexism. We must consistently stand against anti-feminism instead of perpetuating traditional understandings of gender and thus making right-wing extremist positions socially acceptable. And we must hold the perpetrators accountable instead of looking for blame in the victims. In the words of Gisèle Pelicot, who was raped for over ten years by her husband and strangers while drugged, and who explicitly requested a public trial against the perpetrators this year: “Shame must change sides.”
In the context of domestic violence, this means, on the one hand, believing women affected by violence and offering sufficient barrier-free places of protection. The legal right to protection and advice in cases of violence must be anchored in law and financially secured. The passing of the announced Violence Protection and Support Act is therefore overdue and must take place within this legislative period!
On the other hand, a rethink also means that we tackle the roots of the problem and hold perpetrators – in most cases men – more accountable. Too often, those affected are still expected to take action and look after their own protection. This shift of responsibility is unacceptable and, furthermore, does not create long-term safety. The violence can only be ended by the perpetrators themselves. They must take responsibility, confront their behaviour, and address the causes of the violence. At present, however, only a fraction of perpetrators go through a social training programme to change their behaviour. This must change!
We therefore call for greater consideration of standardised perpetrator work as a prevention and intervention measure against domestic violence. We are therefore not only pushing for the passing of the Violence Protection and Support Act, but also for the inclusion of quality-standard perpetrator work in the announced amendment to the Violence Protection Act. The legal framework for mandatory perpetrator work must be expanded. Furthermore, regulations regarding custody and access in cases of domestic violence should be linked to participation in social training programmes. The facilities must be equipped with resources accordingly.
To end violence against women, we need a societal rethink at all levels – and we need it now!
[1] https://www.uu.se/en/press/press-releases/2024/2024-06-03-ucdp-record-number-of-armed-conflicts-in-the-world (20/11/2024)
[2] Federal Criminal Police Office (2024): Federal Situation Reports – Gender-specific crimes directed against women 2023, Federal Criminal Police Office: Wiesbaden.
[3] Decker, Oliver; Kiess, Johannes; Heller, Ayline; Elmar Brähler (2024): Leipzig Authoritarianism Study 2024, Psychosozial Verlag: Gießen.
