Together against violence against women
Jena is taking a stand against domestic violence. This year, the city is once again taking part in the "Act - now!" campaign organized by the municipal equal opportunities commissioners with their local networks against domestic violence and the state equal opportunities commissioners. Every day in Germany, a woman is killed by the violence of her (ex-)partner. A quarter of all women experience gender-based violence. Too many do not know where they can get help and support. To change this, a variety of activities are taking place in 30 cities and districts in Thuringia around the International Day against Violence against Women on 25.11.2025 - from information stands and light installations to discussion rounds and social media activities.
Activities in Jena
From 19.11.2025, a joint campaign will be running on social networks, in which the city of Jena is also participating. A total of seven posts are planned for the Lichtstadt channels, presenting various support services, each with specific information and contact addresses for affected women.
"The aim of the campaign is to inform as many women as possible who are experiencing violence about free and confidential support services,"
says Dr. Kerstin Haupt, Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Jena.
"Only those who know about the help available can protect themselves from a violent man."
A rally with speeches from the "Thüringer Netzwerk Feminizide stoppen" (Thuringian Network to Stop Feminicide) will take place on the Holzmarkt on 25.11.2025 between 5 and 7 pm. In addition, a candle campaign with choir singing is planned by the Jena Women's Shelter Association. As an important sign, the flag "Free life without violence" will also be flying at the historic town hall in Jena from November 17 to 28, 2025.
State Equal Opportunities Officer Nadja Sthamer emphasizes:
"'Act - now' is a strong sign of lived solidarity and cooperation in Thuringia. The fact that the state and local authorities have been working hand in hand here for four years shows that We take the implementation of the Istanbul Convention seriously. Victims need to know their rights and where they can find support - that is the key to a life free from violence."
Bundled overview of all local support services
The municipal equal opportunities officers and members of the local networks against domestic violence want to further optimize help in cases of violence and make it better known locally. The new 2025 campaign "And if I act now ... I will save myself" addresses the uncertainties of those affected before contacting a contact point. The campaign aims to provide information about the procedures at advice centres and explain that people seeking advice are not obliged to do anything - instead, they decide what they do and can organize this in a much more planned and safer way after receiving advice than with "head-over-heels actions", which can be very dangerous. Find out more at: www.handle-jetzt.de
Throughout the year, around 200 local and national advice and support services can also be found on this website.
Symposium to kick things off
The campaign starts this year with a symposium in Ilmenau. Under the motto "Look.Understand.Act." the Ilm district invites you to a specialist day against violence on Thursday, 20.11.2025, from 10:00 to 16:00 in the Parkcafé Ilmenau. District Administrator Petra Enders:
"The specialist day is the first of its kind in the Ilm district and sends a clear signal against violence in all areas of life. It serves to create visibility, break the silence and establish concrete options for action on the ground. Our aim is to strengthen networks between aid organizations, health services, police, schools, youth welfare offices, family centers and other local stakeholders in order to ensure coordinated, effective and early support."
Background information
The local authorities participating in "handle-jetzt.de" in 2025 are, together with the Free State of Thuringia and the State Commissioner, the cities of Arnstadt, Apolda, Erfurt, Eisenach, Gera, Gotha, Ilmenau, Jena, Meiningen, Mühlhausen, Nordhausen, Saalfeld, Sondershausen, Suhl, Weimar and the districts of Altenburger Land, Eichsfeld, Gotha, Greiz, Hildburghausen, Ilm-Kreis, Kyffhäuser-Kreis, Saale-Holzland-Kreis, Saale-Orla-Kreis, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Sonneberg, Sömmerda, Wartburgkreis and Weimarer Land.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is held every year on November 25 as a day of remembrance and action to combat discrimination and violence in all its forms against women and girls. Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violations. It is a global phenomenon and can occur anywhere: in any country, at home, at work, in leisure time. The United Nations estimates that more than 35 percent of all women worldwide are victims of sexual or physical violence at least once in their lives.