Barriers for those seeking protection: Women's shelter Neubrandenburg in crisis mode

Barriers for those seeking protection: Women's shelter Neubrandenburg in crisis mode

In the Mecklenburg Lake District, women and children, especially those with physical restrictions, are more affected by the threat of domestic violence. The Neubrandenburg Women's and Child Protection House is forced to reject protectors because the facility is not designed for all needs. The lack of accessibility is a great obstacle that particularly affects women with disabilities.

A place for women in emergency

Although the shelter provides a total of twelve places, those seeking protection often have to be rejected. "Lack of space is a Problem, but accessibility is our biggest obstacle," explains the head of the women's shelter, Veronica Meyer (name changed). This challenge means that many of the existing places cannot be fully used, which only enlarges the suffering and uncertainty of the women concerned.

The role of politics

A central problem is also the insufficient implementation of the Istanbul Convention, which is intended to offer legal protection for women and children. In Neubrandenburg, larger, barrier -free premises have been looking for larger, barrier -free rooms, but there are no concrete solutions. "Politics promises a lot, but reality looks different," said Meyer. It calls for a comprehensive implementation of the specified requirements in order to be able to help the numerous those in need.

The numbers speak for themselves

The number of domestic violence incidents in Neubrandenburg is alarming. 81 incidents were registered in 2023, with the majority of the perpetrators being men. The police point out that the number of unreported cases could be much higher. A trend that cannot be ignored is the increasing number of suspects with non-German origin. The proportion rose from 13 percent in 2016 to 18.5 percent in 2023.

A comprehensive problem

The challenges of the women's shelter in Neubrandenburg reflect a major social problem that affects many women's shelters in Germany. In addition to the lack of space, it is the lack of staff that complicates the situation. Meyer emphasizes: "We can't even fully exploit the places we have because we are often forced to reject women." The pressure on the existing auxiliary devices is enormous and urgently requires a solution.

Future Perspectives

In this context, solid support from politics and society is essential. "We have to make sure that nobody stops in the rain," emphasizes Meyer. The search for adequate solutions is of the greatest importance to improve the living conditions for women and children in need and to ensure their security. It takes urgent measures to implement the promises of the Istanbul Convention in reality.

- Nag