Germany needs to do more to prevent femicides: survey

Most Germans believe that women need to be better protected against intimate partner violence, according to a survey commissioned by dpa.

Some 62% of respondents told the pollsters YouGov that women in Germany are not being sufficiently protected against femicides committed by partners and ex-partners, with only 21% saying enough safeguards are in place to prevent gender-related killings.

Intimate partner violence - defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in the relationship" - affects women globally.

According to the WHO, the majority of perpetrators, who include both current and former partners, are male.

In Germany, the latest case of violence against women that garnered widespread media attention occurred on March 16, when a 46-year-old male set his wife on fire on a moving tram, causing her life-threatening injuries.

The Federal Criminal Police Office presented a report on "gender-specific offences against women" for the first time in November last year, detailing 360 femicides and 578 attempted femicides in 2023.

Electronic ankle bracelets?

Outgoing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has pushed for better protection for women against gender-based violence, including more effective prosecution and a better support system for those affected.

She has also called for the introduction of electronic ankle bracelets and urged the incoming administration to focus on the issue.

According to Faeser's plans, family courts should be able to order to order electronic monitoring for three months in high-risk cases, but it will be up to the next government - most likely a coalition between the conservatives and Faeser's Social Democrats - to implement changes.

Spain as a model?

Outgoing Justice Minister Volker Wissing has noted progress seen in Spain, where electronic ankle tags and GPS trackers have been used for years to protect victims of domestic violence. Alerts are sent to the victim and police if the perpetrator comes too close.

Some 66% of Germans are in favour of using electronic ankle bracelets to prevent fatal intimate partner violence, according to the survey, with only 22% saying they were opposed to such a measure.

Approval was almost equal between men and women.

For the survey conducted between March 21-24, pollsters YouGov questioned a total of 2,144 adults who are eligible to vote.