"Solidarity can be great fun!" - Event report: "Female Futures: Intimate Partner Violence"

For almost two hours, Christina Clemm, specialist lawyer for criminal and family law and author of the book "Gegen Frauenhass", Dr. Julia Habermann, social scientist and author of the dissertation "Partner*innentötungen und deren gerichtliche Sanktionierung", which was awarded the German Study Prize, and Stefanie Knaab from GfZ discussed intimate partner violence with moderator Teresa Bücker.

"Gender-based violence permeates everyday life," Teresa Bücker stated at the beginning, referring to the alarming figures published for the first time in November 2024 by the Federal Criminal Police Office in the situation report "Gender-based crimes against women", which was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The question was discussed as to what the results of the studies could be linked to: an increased willingness of those affected to report crimes or an actual increase in cases of gender-based violence. Christina Clemm emphasized that this is difficult to assess so far because, firstly, this is the first such explicit statistical survey of gender-based violence - a survey that the Istanbul Convention also obliges Germany to carry out - and secondly, "dark field" surveys would be needed to answer the question. This is because the reported crimes would only be the "bright field", i.e. reported crimes, and therefore a fraction. Stefanie Knaab emphasized that, in addition to the last major study on unreported crimes from 2004, smaller studies from Saxony and Lower Saxony (2022) had shown that only every 215th crime in the context of domestic violence would be reported at all, so it is assumed that not only the numbers of reported crimes, but also those of the "dark" or unreported field are increasing. Among other things, those affected state in the study that they do not report the violence because they are afraid that they will not be believed, that they consider the violence to be 'not bad enough' and that they are partly to blame for the violence.

In response to Teresa Bücker's question about where violence begins, Stefanie Knaab replied: "From the moment your gut feeling becomes unpleasant or strange, you have to take a closer look. We need to sensitize society as a whole to this". Physical violence, including femicide, is just the tip of the iceberg. Other forms of violence such as digital, sexualized, economic, social and psychological violence are more difficult to identify and are often not recognized as violence. Julia Habermann emphasized that controlling behavior and degradation are particularly relevant in the context of femicide. These behaviors are central in the run-up to a femicide. Homicide can be the first form of physical violence in the relationship and these occur particularly in the context of break-ups - they represent high-risk situations for the development of a homicide.

"I hear the question far too often: Why doesn't the woman break up?" Stefanie Knaab interjected. This suggests that those affected are to blame for the situation. In addition to the justified (mortal) fear of the consequences of a separation, there are countless other reasons, such as an escalating housing market, which sometimes makes it impossible for those affected to separate without the justified fear of homelessness. This is because in some regions in Germany, under certain circumstances, those affected have to bear the costs of shelter themselves. Christina Clemm also explained how shameful both criminal and family law court proceedings can sometimes be for those affected. "We need more publicity in court!" she demanded.

In this context, the current german government's planned Violence Assistance Act was also discussed, with time now running out for it to be enshrined in law during the current legislative period. As a legal entitlement to a place of protection or counseling, for example, it could make the situation easier for many victims. Local authorities are obliged to provide places of refuge. In this way, Germany would finally fulfill its obligation under the Istanbul Convention to provide a minimum of 21,000 protection places. There are currently almost 15,000 too few places in women's shelters in Germany. Stefanie Knaab denounced the fact that the government had not prioritized the Violence Assistance Act and emphasized that, all in all, this would certainly be an expensive undertaking, but in view of the alarming figures, it was an "absolute catastrophe" that this money was not taken in hand.

Julia Habermann interjected here that prevention strategies were also needed and Bücker asked what these could look like in the best case scenario. Stefanie Knaab cited gender-sensitive education from an early age, a critical examination of misogynistic, sexist and violence-romanticizing narratives and images in literature and film, an honest anti-poverty strategy and the introduction of mandatory perpetrator work programmes, such as those in Austria, as examples of measures that could be taken. "All ministries must work on this!" she demanded. The issue should be tackled across all ministries, as it permeates the whole of society. Christina Clemm added that it is essential to understand gender-based violence for what it is: a stabilizing construct in patriarchy. The patriarchal society can always consolidate itself through violence or through the mere fear of it. This fear alone would fundamentally influence the behavior and the entire movement of those potentially affected in both public and private spaces. "The deep-seated hatred of women is instilled at an early age," she warned, "Combating gender-based violence is about much more than preventing direct violence. It's about equality, about how we want to live together as a society. "

Teresa Bücker concluded with the question of where to get the strength to continue fighting against gender-based violence. Julia Habermann argued that it would take endurance and perseverance. Christina Clemm concluded with a call for solidarity with one another: "Solidarity can also be great fun!"