Electronic ankle bracelets: New protection for women in Germany!

Electronic ankle bracelets: New protection for women in Germany!

The black-red coalition in Germany is tackling a major issue: protecting women from domestic violence. On August 23, 2025, Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) presented a bill that provides for the introduction of electronic ankle bracelets for perpetrators. This is intended to ensure better protection for victims, particularly in high-risk cases. However, this electronic surveillance is only one component in a more comprehensive strategy FAZ reported.

But this only addresses part of the problem. In Germany there are not the same protection systems as in Spain, where there is a comprehensive concept for preventing violence in relationships. There, the risks to women are assessed in detail and specialized police authorities and courts specifically deal with the cases. Such a system is missing in this country, where the approach ban has existed since 2002, but is rarely actually checked and there is often no prior contact between the victims and the authorities.

Mechanism of the ankle bracelet and its challenges

The draft law stipulates that perpetrators can be required by family courts to wear an ankle bracelet. The ankle bracelet may initially only be ordered for a maximum of six months, but can be extended by three months. An important aspect is that victims are warned by a receiving device when the perpetrator approaches - the police are automatically alerted in such a case. This is intended to help prevent homicides and serious bodily harm, which is caused by the daily news is highlighted.

Although the idea sounds promising, there is skepticism from women's shelter associations. They warn about the practical feasibility of the ankle bracelet and fear that constitutional hurdles could make its widespread use more difficult. The use of current tools such as the approach ban shows that these tools are rarely used and women are often advised to simply get to safety instead of monitoring someone else. The necessary support systems that exist across the board in other countries are often missing here.

Numbers that alarm

The need for action is obvious. In 2023, over 250,000 people in Germany were registered as victims of domestic violence, and in 2024 a new high was recorded with almost 266,000 people affected. Statistically speaking, one person is abused by a partner or relative every two minutes - an alarming number that calls for action.

The bill is closely modeled on the Spanish model, where no victim has been killed due to domestic violence since 2009. In addition to the introduction of ankle bracelets, anti-violence training for perpetrators should also be ordered and information from the weapons register should be requested. An increase in the penalty range for violations of the Violence Protection Act is also planned in order to increase deterrence.

It remains to be seen whether these new regulations, which are expected to come into force at the end of 2026, will have the desired effect. One thing is certain: the protection of women must be the focus, and society has a good knack for finding solutions - because there is something really important.