Restraints for feet, aimed at shielding domestic violence victims
The German Federal Ministry of Justice has put forward a draft bill aimed at enhancing protection for victims of domestic violence. The proposed amendment to the Violence Protection Act seeks to establish a nationwide regulation, following in the footsteps of Spain's successful model.
Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) emphasised the urgent need for action, particularly in addressing domestic violence against women. According to official reports, more than 250,000 people became victims of domestic violence in 2023, with the majority being women. The overwhelming majority of suspects are male.
The draft bill suggests that electronic location monitoring could prevent homicides or serious bodily harm in individual cases. Family courts can mandate perpetrators to wear electronic ankle bracelets for location tracking, providing a means of monitoring and potentially warning victims. The ankle bracelets are intended to alert victims via a receiving device if the perpetrator approaches.
In addition, family judges will be allowed to request information from the weapons registry to better assess the threat level. The plans also include making it compulsory for perpetrators to attend anti-violence training.
Experts believe there is a significant number of unreported cases of domestic violence, emphasising the importance of these measures. Minister Hubig reported that a woman in Germany is attacked by her partner or ex-partner every few minutes, and a man kills his partner or ex-partner almost every other day.
The penalty range for violations of the Protection Against Violence Act will be increased from a fine or up to two years imprisonment to a fine or up to three years imprisonment. This amendment aims to deter perpetrators and provide a stronger deterrent.
The plans from the Federal Ministry of Justice are based on Spain's model, where no victim has been killed since the introduction of electronic ankle bracelets for perpetrators in 2009. This success story underscores the potential effectiveness of the proposed measures.
However, it is worth noting that figures for 2024 on domestic violence have not been officially presented. A report by "Welt am Sonntag" suggests a record value of 265,942 affected people last year.
Minister Hubig emphasised that electronic ankle bracelets could save lives and should be used nationwide in Germany. The draft bill, if passed, could mark a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence in the country.
