By Ute Kaiser
“Every three minutes, a woman or girl in Germany experiences domestic violence”: This was stated by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser at a press conference. And: there is a femicide almost every day. This means that a woman or girl is killed just because she is female. In addition, more than 140 women and girls become victims of a sex crime every day. These are the latest figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) on “gender-specific crimes against women” in 2023.
Last year, 938 girls and women were victims of attempted or completed homicides—360 girls and women died. The Federal Criminal Police Office attributes 68.6 per cent of these crimes to domestic violence. The BKA recorded more than 180,000 female victims of domestic violence (up 5.6 per cent).
Sexual offences increased by 6.2 per cent. 52,330 women were affected. According to the BKA, 98.9 per cent of the suspects in rape, sexual assault and sexual assault were men. In the case of sexual harassment or sexual abuse of children or adolescents, well over 90 per cent of the suspects were also male. Overall, victims and perpetrators are predominantly German nationals, as the BKA writes.
More than 17,000 women and girls were victims of digital violence in the known cases in 2023. These acts have increased by 25 per cent. This includes cyberstalking—i.e. tracking and monitoring with digital tools. It also includes cybergrooming—i.e. the targeted initiation of sexual contacts with minors on the internet.
The increase in politically motivated hate crimes against women is particularly high, rising by 56.3 per cent to 322 offences. These include violence and assault.
591 women and girls were affected by “human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation” (e.g. pimping and prostitution)—an increase of 6.9 per cent. Almost a third of those affected were under the age of 21.
Various initiatives are calling on politicians in Berlin to quickly pass a law against violence against women. Their reasoning: “Without the Violence Assistance Act, people will continue to die, lives will continue to be destroyed—because they are denied the protection they so urgently need!” Further information can be found here:
Help is available for female victims of violence:
In Tübingen at the association “Frauen helfen Frauen” (Women Helping Women), contact via the homepage Frauen helfen Frauen Tübingen—see also the tuenews report tun22111401.
In the district of Tübingen, the initiative “women without borders” (“Frauen ohne Grenzen”) is specifically for female refugees—see Women Without Borders.
Nationwide for all nationalities, 24/7, 365 days a year, by calling 116 016 for advice on violence against women or online at www.hilfetelefon.de.
Specifically for children and young people, by calling 116 111 Monday to Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.—see www.nummergegenkummer.de.
Information and support for victims of domestic violence is provided by the app www.gewaltfrei-in-die-zukunft.de.
Information on and the report of the Federal Criminal Police Office can be found at BMI | Lagebild Gewalt gegen Frauen and BKA | Straftaten gegen Frauen.
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The “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” on Tübingen’s market square. Photo: tuenews INTERNATIONAL / Ute Kaiser.
