November 25th was the day dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. Across Germany, there were many events where people could learn about violence against women and girls. Additionally, there were many films on television addressing this issue.
Furthermore, the federal states have released a lot of information about shelters for women and girls. They have shared this information in newspapers, on the internet, and on television. Since 2011, Germany has been following the Istanbul Convention, which outlines important rules to combat violence against women and girls. These rules focus on protecting women and girls, how to protect them, and what actions need to be taken to ensure their safety.
In the state of Saxony, the Ministry of Justice announced that there are currently 172 family spaces available in women’s shelters. These spaces provide a safe haven for women and their children who have experienced domestic violence, such as being physically or verbally abused by their partners. However, according to the Istanbul Convention, a state like Saxony should have 409 protection spaces for women and girls.
Similarly, in Saxony-Anhalt, there is a shortage of protection spaces for women and girls. The Ministry of Equality stated that there are only 113 protection spaces available, whereas there should be around 225 spaces according to the Istanbul Convention.
On the other hand, Thuringia has shown commitment to providing more support for women and girls who have experienced violence. Starting in January 2025, the state plans to allocate a significant amount of funding to women’s shelters. Currently, there are 176 protection spaces in Thuringia, but this number is expected to increase to 275 in the near future.
For those interested in reading the Istanbul Convention in an easy-to-understand language, it is available here: [link to the document]. This document simplifies the Convention’s content for better comprehension.
