As an employee of Autonomous Women's Shelter Lübeck I interact with people affected by patriarchal violence every day.

Aber die Wenigsten, die von häuslicher- oder Partnerschaftsgewalt betroffen sind, erstatten Anzeige. Die Anzeigequote in Deutschland liegt, nach der neuen Dunkelfeld-Studie LeSuBiA bei unter 5%. Und wenn sie es doch tun, endet diese Anzeige meistens nicht mit der Verurteilung des Täters. Warum?

• Because the violence happens behind closed doors and in private rooms, where there are hardly any witnesses or concrete evidence.
• Because there are no mandatory training sessions on domestic violence in the judiciary and police.

Politics has finally recognized the urgency of protection for victims of domestic or partner violence:

Last year, the new Violence Against Women Act is adopted. This means that from 2032, there will be a nationwide legal right to help, protection, and counseling for women and their children affected by violence for the first time. Until then, 12,000 women's shelter places still need to be created nationwide, for which the federal government is making 2.6 million euros available.

What specific changes does this Violence Assistance Act bring for women affected by violence?

• An individual legal claim to protection and counseling from 2032
• Nationwide ensuring low-threshold access to support services
• The possibility for all victims of violence with a female gender marker to access support services nationwide, regardless of their place of residence
• Free services regardless of income, origin, or residency status
• Binding minimum standards for care facilities

That all sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That sounds like an improvement for victims of violence and their children?

Of course, expanding the number of places in women's shelters is desirable for us. Day after day, we have to turn away women and their children seeking protection because we no longer have space. In 2025 alone, 331 women with 383 children were turned away from our women's shelter – that's 60 people per month!

But what we are still wondering is: Why does the victim always have to leave? Why do women and children, who are victims of violence through no fault of their own, have to leave their homes, their daily lives, and their familiar structures? What about the perpetrators?

Moving to a women's shelter is a big step for victims of violence. Women and children often have to leave their home, job, kindergarten/school, sports clubs, circle of friends and family structures in order to protect themselves from further violence by the perpetrator. Some have to change city or even state to get to safety. The perpetrator stays comfortably and undisturbed in his home, keeps his job and is not affected in any way by the violence he causes.

Is that really adequate protection? We, the Autonomous Women's Shelters, say: No!

In our society, it is normalized that people affected by violence Sich must be protected. It is normalized that victims must run away and hide, while perpetrators can continue their lives without consequences. This circumstance is in no way changed by the new Violence Assistance Act.

Violence should not happen at all. This requires fundamental societal change, which can only be achieved through early prevention in schools and daycare centers, through offender programs with perpetrators of violence, and mandatory further training for the judiciary and police!

Women, their children and TIN* persons need a system that protects them from patriarchal violence. However, women's shelter workers observe a system of shifting responsibility, mistrust towards those affected, negligence and a lack of professional expertise in custody and access rights proceedings or: a system that enables patriarchal violence and femicides.   

We demand a societal change where victims of patriarchal violence do not constantly have to flee to be safe. We demand a comprehensive strategy that is anchored and implemented in laws, in the executive authorities, in the judiciary, and in civil society. Prevention is the foundation for a non-violent society!