In Germany there is a huge lack of places in women's shelters to protect themselves against domestic violence. The traffic light really wanted to change that, but did little.

In the rooms of a women's shelter in Nienburg, Lower Saxony Photo: Peter Steffen/dpa

Every hour in Germany more than 14 women are victims of intimate partner violence and the trend is increasing. If a woman wants to escape from her violent partner, she needs to get to a safe place as quickly as possible. Women's shelters offer this protected space; They are essential to protect women from violence. But every day women's shelters have to turn away women in need because they don't have enough places.

In Germany there are more than 13,000 shelter places for women missing. This arose from a response from the federal government to a request from the left. In this way, the government is abandoning women affected by violence. In the worst case, it even sends them to their deaths. Because this is also part of the misogynistic reality: almost every day a partner or ex-partner tries to kill a woman.

The fact that Germany still does not provide enough shelters for women is not only a feminist accusation, but also a violation of the Istanbul Convention. The international agreement to combat gender violence against women and girls provides for at least 21,500 free shelter places for women in Germany. Currently there are only 7,786 places nationwide. Women who do not receive social benefits pay between 7 euros (Berlin) and 53 euros (Bremen) per day.

financial mosaic

Costs depend on how much states and municipalities contribute to the financing. Each country handles financing differently; In addition to state funds and money from municipalities, donations and contributions from women ensure the aid system. This creates a financial mosaic that results in women being protected from violence to varying degrees depending on the federal state. Countries also often lack the money to create more places in women's shelters. Financing is the central problem of the miserable supply situation.

A nationwide funding plan could change that. Traffic Light has also included this in the coalition agreement as a “national legal framework for reliable funding of women's shelters.” He also wanted to implement the Istanbul Convention “unconditionally and effectively.” Little has happened since then.

Given the increasing number of domestic violence, the government must implement the coalition agreement as quickly as possible and create more places. These should be free for everyone. Because women who leave a violent relationship and try to start over often find themselves in a financially precarious situation. For them, every penny counts.