Domestic violence is one of the most frequent human rights violations. As the “Domestic Violence Situation Report” published by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) on 11 July 2023 shows, registered cases of domestic violence in Germany rose alarmingly once again last year. In 2022, a total of 240,547 cases of domestic violence were reported (+8.5%). The BKA recorded a particularly drastic increase in intimate partner violence. According to the report, 157,818 people were affected by this form of domestic violence in the recorded statistics in 2022, representing an increase of 9.1%. In over 80% of cases of intimate partner violence, those affected were female. 78.3% of the suspects were men.
The Federal Association for Perpetrator Work (BAG TäHG) notes the published figures with great concern. At the same time, the situation report confirms that significant deficits remain in the fight against domestic violence and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Germany. Against this background, the BAG TäHG calls for greater consideration and support for perpetrator work in Germany. People who use violence must be held accountable in order to protect those affected and prevent violence. As GREVIO also emphasises, this requires stronger public funding for perpetrator work that does not come at the expense of support for victims. Perpetrator work can only be carried out professionally and nationwide with sufficient, long-term funding.
In addition to sufficient funding, perpetrator work must be recognised and included as a central component of the intervention chain in domestic violence cases. The barring orders highlighted by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser represent an important measure for protecting those affected. However, they are only a short-term solution that can neither guarantee sustainable protection for victims nor address the root causes of violence. Therefore, the sensitisation of police officers should not be limited to such measures. Rather, there is a need for proactive referral of the person using violence to a perpetrator work facility. Consequently, the BAG TäHG calls for the Germany-wide introduction of the proactive approach in perpetrator work and corresponding legal regulations at federal level. This would allow intervention measures to be initiated early and the causes of violence to be addressed.
Domestic violence is a complex social problem. It can only be combated effectively through cooperation and inter-institutional collaboration. Therefore, the BAG TäHG also calls for sufficient funding for victim support. Furthermore, there is a need for the nationwide establishment of case conferences in high-risk cases with the participation of both victim support and perpetrator work facilities. The BAG TäHG calls on the Federal Government to recognise domestic violence as a problem for society as a whole and to address it with the necessary urgency. On average, 432 people become victims of intimate partner violence every day. FLINTA* individuals are particularly at risk, especially those with disabilities or a refugee background. The Federal Government is called upon to take the gender-specific dimensions of domestic violence into account and to fully implement the Istanbul Convention.
