Violence has its perpetrators: Women's Office launches campaign week for the International Day against Violence against Women

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), 240,547 people were victims of domestic violence in Germany in 2022, 71.1% of whom (171,029 victims) were women. 152 people were killed by their (ex-)partner, and 87.5% of the victims here were also female: violence is therefore an everyday reality for many women. This is also confirmed by the figures for Offenbach, where 223 cases of domestic violence against women were recorded. In addition, 32 women were recorded as victims of stalking and 36 of rape in the police crime statistics. The perpetrators are often (ex-)partners or male family members.

Experts are certain that these already alarming figures still only represent the "tip of the iceberg", as many acts in the so-called social environment remain hidden and undetected.

This is where the poster campaign "Violence has its perpetrators" comes in, which will be published as part of the action week. The campaign, developed by the working group and the Women's Office, addresses the issue of the number of unreported cases of gender-specific violence, particularly in relation to the perpetrators of stalking, rape and domestic violence. The available data makes it clear that stalking, rape and domestic violence occur more frequently than is generally known. This is often also due to the victims, who are reluctant to report it or seek help due to fear, shame or dependency. "Our poster campaign 'Violence has its perpetrators' is intended to be a wake-up call and shed light on the darkness, as gender-specific violence often takes place in secret and in private," emphasizes Dr. Inga Halwachs, Municipal Commissioner for Women and Gender Equality. "We need to take a closer look, raise awareness, expand prevention measures and provide more support for those affected. I am convinced that together we can achieve a lot and create an environment in which women in Offenbach can live safely and without fear."

Violence against women comes in many forms and speaks many languages. All over the world, women and girls are victims of sexualized violence every day, are oppressed against their will, are denied access to education and are not free to make their own decisions. The international day of action "Orange your City" on November 25 has been setting an example worldwide since 2008. The city of Offenbach has been taking part since 2021, where the Offenbach town hall shines in orange every day between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the campaign period, symbolizing the determination in the fight against violence against women.

In addition, the city will be decorated with posters and banners during the campaign week to spread the message "Offenbach against violence against women". The Women's Office is calling on people to actively set an example against violence against women and to support the city's solidarity.

Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke supports the campaign: "Together, we as the city of Offenbach are showing our determination to condemn violence against women and combat it in all its forms. The illuminated town hall and the message 'Offenbach against violence against women' on our streets are visible signs of our support for the worldwide 'Orange your City' initiative. As Mayor of Offenbach, I am delighted about the commitment and solidarity of our city and I encourage all citizens to actively support a violence-free Offenbach."

At the start of the campaign week, the Offenbach working group against domestic and sexualized violence will be using spray chalk for the fourth time on Friday, 24 November and making visible signs in Offenbach's city centre and districts. Several teams will be out and about spraying the message "Stop violence against women" on Offenbach's streets. This creative and visible campaign calls on people to take a stand together against violence against women.

The following day, on Saturday, November 25, two information stands on Aliceplatz and Wilhelmsplatz invite people to confront myths and prejudices about the perpetrators of violence against women. It is rarely unknown perpetrators who attack, overpower and rape a woman in a remote location, but violence often takes place in familiar contexts. "We want to educate people about perpetrator myths, inform them about prevention and protection measures and invite them to reflect on their own images and prejudices," says Halwachs, explaining the aim of the campaign.

Because protection against violence is a year-round issue in Offenbach, there is an extensive and professional support system in the city that offers affected women help and support on a daily basis. This includes various contact points such as the specialist advice centre for domestic violence, the crisis intervention centre and the women* and children's shelter run by the Frauen helfen Frauen e.V. association, as well as the pro Familia advice services, including the women's emergency hotline, immediate medical assistance after rape and Halte.Punkt for children and young people who have suffered sexualized violence. The White Ring with its victim counseling service and Caritas e.V.'s perpetrator counseling service are also important pillars of Offenbach's support system.

These and other actors, the police, the judiciary and the youth welfare office are organized in the working group against domestic and sexualized violence and exchange information on an ongoing basis. With the launch of the coordination office for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, the city has taken a further step in the area of protection against violence, further developing existing measures to combat gender-specific and domestic violence and implementing new ones. The work is based on the needs already identified in Offenbach's support system and closes gaps. "The appointment of this position underlines the city's claim to be a reliable and forward-looking partner in all matters relating to combating and preventing gender-specific and domestic violence. We work for all girls and women in Offenbach, even beyond the campaign period," says Inga Halwachs.