Domestic violence in the Rottweil district: government plans ankle bracelets for perpetrators!

Domestic violence in the Rottweil district: government plans ankle bracelets for perpetrators!

In recent years, the number of cases of domestic violence and femicide in the Rottweil district has increased alarmingly. Hanne Blust and Renate Weiler from the specialist advice center “Women help women + AUSWEGE” report worrying increases in consultations, which rose last year to 389 for women and 142 for young victims of sexual violence. The problem remains particularly persistent: a total of three femicides in the district were reported to the consultants as unknown, which illustrates the number of unreported cases in a frightening way.

A report by Plan International Germany shows that 34% of men surveyed use violence as a means of demanding respect regard. Over a third of these men even see it as acceptable to become violent in arguments with their partners. Such views are in line with recent developments in politics, where Federal Justice Minister Dr. Volker Wissing emphasized the urgency of the fight against domestic violence and announced that he would reform the Violence Protection Act.

Electronic ankle bracelets to protect victims

A central element of this reform is the planned introduction of electronic ankle bracelets for perpetrators, which are to be ordered by law. If the perpetrator approaches the victim, the victim is warned and the police are alerted. This could be a crucial measure to better protect women, since in Germany a woman dies at the hands of her (ex) partner almost every other day.

The Violence Protection Act, which has been in force since 2002, enables those affected to apply for protection orders from family courts. These orders can include bans on entering the apartment or making contact. In the future, perpetrators could also be required to take part in social training courses in order to prevent violence and show them possible solutions. The political measures could be decided before the next federal election, as [BMJ](https://hdr4.bmj.de/SharedDocs/Press Releases/DE/2025_A/0108_GewaltschutzG.html) reported.

Domestic violence as a social problem

Domestic violence remains a deep-rooted social problem that manifests itself not only in the personal environment but also in public. According to Statista, around 181,000 of the approximately 256,000 victims of domestic violence in 2023 were women. When it came to intimate partner violence, the proportion of women was even 79%. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many crimes go unreported. This is also reflected in the high willingness to report crimes, which often correlates with social pressure and shame.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, celebrated on November 25, reminds us that this issue is relevant not only locally, but globally. The “Women Helping Women + OUTWay” advice center is available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. In case of emergencies, contact persons are also available via the answering machine.

It remains to be hoped that the planned reforms and increased prevention work in schools and kindergartens will help raise awareness of sexual violence and break the cycle of violence.