Germany launches initiatives to combat domestic violence and sexual abuse

Germany is implementing new measures and awareness campaigns to combat domestic violence and sexual abuse. The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) has introduced several initiatives to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable. These include the potential use of electronic ankle monitors in high-risk cases to prevent offenders from approaching victims, and the possibility of impacting visitation rights for parents who commit domestic violence.

Additionally, the BMJV has launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and break taboos surrounding domestic violence. This initiative aims to encourage victims, friends, and neighbors to seek help and recognize available support services.

Separately, the Independent Commission for Processing Sexual Child Abuse has launched the ‘Open for your story’ campaign. This initiative specifically targets people with disabilities, who are identified as being at higher risk of sexual abuse due to power imbalances. The campaign uses videos and advertisements to encourage survivors and witnesses to report their experiences to the commission.