Monday, 25 November
Crisis Looms for domestic violence support in Berlin
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Berlin’s social organisations have voiced alarm over planned budget cuts affecting violence prevention and protection services. The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband Berlin described the proposed reductions as ‘unacceptable’, warning that the elimination of offender rehabilitation programmes could lead to more victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The Senate’s budget cuts target €4.5 million, almost 40%, from the €11.6 million allocated for violence protection and offender prevention.
According to a current data analysis from the Federal Criminal Police Office, the number of women affected by violence has increased by 5.6% to 180,715 in the last year.
Programmes at risk include the Charité’s violence protection clinic, the “Beratung für Männer – gegen Gewalt” offender counseling service, and the “Wegweiser” project, which provides guidance to individuals seeking help for domestic violence.
Social organisations highlighted the devastating impact of these cuts, with the Volkssolidarität Berlin noting that reducing support for offender accountability and rehabilitation undermines the safety of women and families. Berlin has already reported 28 femicides this year, and advocates argue that cutting funding threatens the progress already made in combating gender violence.
The situation is made worse by delays in implementing interdisciplinary case conferences, which are used in other states to coordinate protection for women at immediate risk. Data privacy concerns have stalled this initiative in Berlin, although improvements were recently promised.
As debates over budget priorities continue, organisations are urging the Senate to reverse the cuts and protect vital programmes that support survivors and reduce violence in the community.
