Protest in Berlin: Women's shelters are fighting against cuts in protection against violence

Protest in Berlin: Women's shelters are fighting against cuts in protection against violence

On Thursday, September 18, 2025, employees of Berlin women's shelters will once again protest in front of the House of Representatives in Berlin-Mitte. The reason is upcoming savings in protection against violence, which are triggering an urgent discussion about the care of women and children affected by violence. The decision on the cuts is due on the same day and is causing great concern.

The situation for women in violent relationships is alarming. In 2024 alone, 29 women died in Berlin as a result of relationship crimes. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, 171,100 cases of intimate partner violence were registered nationwide in 2024, with 80 percent of the victims being women. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher. The women's shelter coordination also shows in its statistics that around 14,200 women with 16,000 children seek refuge in women's shelters every year, a number that can only be viewed as worrying in view of the increasing violence against women.

Lack of shelter places

There is currently a lack of around 500 shelter places for women affected by violence in the capital, which does not meet the requirements of the Istanbul Convention. Thursday's protest is the sixth of its kind this year. A massive demonstration with around 4,000 participants against social cuts also drew public attention to the problem. The Berlin Initiative Against Violence Against Women (BIG) can be reached around the clock on the emergency number 030 6110300 and offers offers of help.

Based on a survey by the Evangelical Press Service (epd), the situation nationwide is classified as critical. Accordingly, most federal states provide less than half of the recommended shelter places. The Istanbul Convention calls for a quota of 2.5 shelter places per 10,000 inhabitants. However, this number currently varies greatly between the federal states, with Saxony-Anhalt and Saarland having the lowest rates at around 0.6 places. Berlin is in the middle of the field with 1.2 to 1.6 places, but this is insufficient considering the high levels of violence.

Policies and financing

In order to counteract this situation, the Federal Cabinet is planning to consult on a violence relief law that aims to improve the shelter situation. However, the Federal Minister for Women, Lisa Paus, has not yet been able to reach an agreement on financing. The bill budgets 2.6 billion euros for the years 2027 to 2036, but it is unlikely that the law will be passed before the next new elections.

Financing and access to women's shelters differ depending on the federal state. While in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen no additional payments are required for those seeking help, women in other federal states have to pay between 8 and 22 euros per day. These economic hurdles represent a significant barrier to safety for many of those affected.

The current situation is worrying both in Berlin and nationwide. Despite the clear demand for shelter places, the supply remains inadequate. The protests by employees from women's shelters are therefore a necessary step to draw attention to this urgent problem.