To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Friday, November 25, the city and district equal opportunities officers are setting an example by taking part in the campaign "We break the silence - Together against violence against women - #break the silence" - in solidarity, clearly, across the district. "Women are often blamed when they experience violence," report the equal opportunities officers from their daily work. As a result, those affected do not talk about what they have experienced out of shame and fear. "We want to change that."
According to the police headquarters' security report, 715 people were victims of domestic violence/partner violence in the district of Ludwigsburg alone in 2021 (2020: 783). 568 of the victims, and therefore the overwhelming majority, were female. In violent partnerships, women are mainly victims of assault. The spiral of violence ranges from minor bodily harm (360 female victims) to dangerous or serious bodily harm (40 female victims). However, it is assumed that the cases reported to the police only represent the tip of the iceberg. According to the victim protection association "WEISSER RING", the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. Around 90 percent of the victims of crimes against sexual self-determination in the Ludwigsburg district were women. Almost all rape victims had a previous relationship with the perpetrator.
The nationwide helpline assumes that every third woman in Germany has been affected by sexual and/or physical violence in her life. However, only around 20 percent of women who experience violence actually contact a counseling center. This is where the "Violence against women" helpline, which is available around the clock, comes in: By calling the free telephone number 08000 116 016 and via www.hilfetelefon.de, affected women, people from the social environment of those affected and professionals can obtain advice on all forms of violence against women. The service is also aimed at people from the social environment of those affected as well as professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers and sports coaches.
Both telephone and online counselling are confidential: calls cannot be traced, e-mail exchanges and chats are anonymous. There are no language barriers: interpreters for 18 foreign languages can be added to the conversations at any time. Hearing-impaired people can also contact the helpline using a sign language interpreting service.
