Sexualized violence in old age: Taboo topic reaches Kehl!

Sexualized violence in old age: Taboo topic reaches Kehl!

In a worrying incident, an 84-year-old woman in Kehl in Ortenaukreis became the victim of a sexual and homicide offense. A 23-year-old is currently in custody on suspicion of murder. This is a sad example of an issue that often remains hidden. Experts emphasize that sexual violence against older people, as by SWR emphasizes that it is one of the most hidden forms of violence, which still represents a blind spot in society.

Unfortunately, these sad incidents are not rare. According to the study, 249 women and 17 men over the age of 60 were victims of crimes against sexual self-determination in Baden-Württemberg in 2022. Among the female victims, 27 were even registered as victims of rape. Dominik Gerstner from the Baden-Württemberg Police University emphasizes that such acts often occur in a relationship or care context, where those affected often do not even realize that they are becoming victims.

The most common hurdles

But what stops victims from reporting the crime? Shame plays an essential role here. In addition, many older people come from a generation that viewed sexuality as a private matter, which makes it even more difficult to openly talk about such topics. They are often limited in their ability to file a report due to their need for care or dementia. These circumstances contribute to the fact that many of these crimes remain obscure.

The police are often faced with the challenge that providing evidence in sexual crimes is extremely difficult. This fact means that many of those affected believe that the police cannot help them. Nevertheless, there is hope that older people will be more willing to report sexual violence in the future and thus break the taboo.

Important prevention measures

In order to raise awareness of sexual violence, training for private individuals and professionals is essential. It is crucial that people recognize exactly where the boundaries are between necessary actions and boundary violations. Experts are therefore calling on society to actively combat this.

In conclusion, it should be noted that despite the number of unreported cases behind the above-mentioned figures, there is a need for society to constantly raise awareness of the issue of sexual violence against older people. This is the only way we as a community can ensure that these vulnerable people are protected and their voices are heard.