Women's shelters in the Pinneberg district are calling for tough measures against violence

Women's shelters in the Pinneberg district are calling for tough measures against violence

Today is December 1st, 2025, and an urgent issue is causing a stir in the Pinneberg district: The employees of women's shelters are calling for drastic political and social changes to improve protection for women against intimate partner violence. Last year, 534 women in the county experienced violence from their partner or ex-partner, an alarming sign that calls us to action. The need to address the causes of violence is becoming ever louder. The established offers of help are important, but they often only treat the symptoms without getting to the root of the problem.

The women's shelters in the Pinneberg district emphasize that it is time not only to talk about the consequences of violence, but also to actively change the social conditions that encourage such behavior. This is necessary in order to offer the women affected a secure future and to break the cycle of violence. According to current reports from the Federal Ministries and the BKA, the number of female victims of violence and other crimes is continuously increasing. In 2024, police counted more than 265,000 people who were victims of domestic violence, 70.4 percent of whom were female.

The discussion about digital violence has become more important in this context. A key issue in women's shelters is the use of digital media, which often accompany women and children in their everyday lives. These devices not only play a role in communication, but are also an anchor in a familiar reality of life that they often have to leave behind. The Frauenhauskoordinierung emphasizes that specialist knowledge in dealing with these technologies is essential in order to combat digital violence preventively. From 2026, training is planned for women's shelter employees to recognize stalking apps and ensure the security of devices. The goal is clear: the protective space of women's shelters should also be preserved in the digital world.

Urgent need for action

The situation is serious. Although there are numerous offers for women, many women affected by violence find themselves in a system that only responds hesitantly to their needs. Women's shelters are on the front lines in the fight against violence, but they cannot stop the spread of violence alone. According to the statistics, 18,224 women and girls became victims of digital violence in 2024, an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous year. This trend is alarming and requires rapid political action to take adequate measures and initiate a broader social discussion.

Overall, it appears that the number of unreported cases of domestic violence is high. In the case of intimate partner violence, the reporting rate is less than 5 percent. This shows how important it is for those affected to reduce their fear of contact and to trust the offers of help. The call from women's shelter employees to focus on the causes of violence is not just a cry for help, but an appeal to all of us to work together for a safe and violence-free society. Only through close cooperation between society, politics and the employees in aid organizations can we bring about the necessary changes.