25.11. I act NOW!

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November (Orange Day) , Thuringia's equal opportunities officers are saying NO to all forms of violence. Together with the regional networks against domestic violence, they are drawing attention to the wide range of counseling services available throughout Thuringia .

Violence can have many faces. We can encounter it at home, at work, in public spaces or online. Violence does not begin with physical violence. Threats, verbal abuse and control can also be forms of violence(link is external). According to police crime statistics(link is external), "in 2020, there were more than 148,000 victims of intimate partner violence - 80.5 percent of whom were women (...) Every hour, an average of 13 women in Germany are victims of intimate partner violence(link is external). Every two and a half days, a woman dies as a result of violence committed by her partner or ex-partner," the German government reported[1](link is external).

From 15.11.2022 to 25.11.2022, a new topic will appear every day in a campaign on social networks with the help of a "fictitious diary" of a woman affected. The names used in the diary are therefore purely coincidental. It is about around 80 Thuringian and nationwide counseling and support services for all people affected by violence. The consultations are confidential and can be anonymous if desired. They can be found under the link www.handle-jetzt.de(link is external). This message is intended to reach those affected and those around them: No one has to endure violence. Confidential, free and, if desired, anonymous services are available in all regions of Thuringia. The campaign aims to motivate people to stop putting up with it and to take action to improve their own situation. Many people are ashamed and desperate and do not dare to leave the taboo zone of domestic violence. They should know that they are not alone and that they will be left alone if they want to change their situation. The campaign is also intended to reach those close to those affected. The environment includes relatives, friends, acquaintances, the household, the club, the kindergarten, the school, the colleague. This environment should not look away, but actively support affected people and make them aware of the numerous offers of help.

This is the first time that this initiative has been organized in this form:

The Thuringian Commissioner for Gender Equality and 18 municipal gender equality officers from the cities and districts of: Apolda, Eisenach, Gera, Greiz district, Ilmenau, Ilm district, Jena, Kyffhäuserkreis, Mühlhausen, Nordhausen, Rudolstadt, Saale-Holzland district, Saalfeld, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, Sondershausen, Wartburgkreis, Weimar and Weimarer Land district.

Together, the cities and districts with their networks and the state equal opportunities officer Gabi Ohler say: "No violence! Get help from one of the many advice and support centers in Thuringia"

Jena rebuilds women's shelter

Women's shelters are rare in Thuringia. This is not a new realization, but the situation is precarious and has been deteriorating for years. One reason for this is that women's shelters are run on a voluntary basis by towns and municipalities. Since 2008, cities and municipalities in Thuringia have been responsible for women's shelters, and there are currently women's shelters in 12 of Thuringia's 22 districts and independent cities. The women's shelter in Jena has existed since 1990 and offers 16 places. Through an administrative agreement with the SHK, Jena also provides support for victims from this region.

The federal funding program "Together against violence against women" with a total volume of 120 million euros was launched to implement the goal of the round table of the federal, state and local governments to improve the protection of women affected by violence and their children. The investment program makes it possible to promote the barrier-free expansion of women's shelters and to create new spatial capacities for women seeking protection together with their children. Jena (via KIJ) was the only municipality in Thuringia to submit such an application and receive funding for the conversion of the women's shelter.

Jena network against domestic violence

The Jena Network against Domestic Violence brings together institutions, authorities and advice centers with the aim of developing effective measures and activities against domestic violence. The network was founded in November 2004 as part of the intervention work of Jenaer Frauenhaus e.V. and currently comprises 17 regional players.