Status: 09.07.2022 03:45 a.m
In the corona pandemic, the number of domestic violence counseling services has increased. However, most cases are still not reported at all.
The fax machine is the most important item in the counseling and intervention center for victims of domestic violence in Saarbrücken. “After an operation, the police forward us the contact details of those affected. If they agree, we call them,” explains director Christine Theisen.
In 2021, she and her colleague were able to advise 774 people affected, and in the first year of the pandemic there were even 796 cases – a significant increase compared to 2019, when there were around 100 fewer cases.
Difficult conditions to seek help
“Corona was like a fire accelerator,” says Theisen’s colleague Corinna Rebmann. The pandemic put a lot of pressure on many families, especially during the first lockdown, when everyone had to reduce contacts and was literally stuck at home. She tells of a case: A couple of teachers worked from home.
Her two elementary school-age children were also homeschooled. The woman had always seen her husband aggressive before Corona, but then he threw furniture and other objects through the house. “A danger for the children and the woman,” says Rebmann.
In addition to growing financial worries and being isolated, it was becoming increasingly difficult for those affected to seek help. Because psychotherapy practices were closed. For fear of being infected with Corona, many did not want to go to a women’s shelter, explains the counselor. More than 90 percent of those affected with whom Theisen and Rebmann come into contact are women.
Corinna Rebmann (left) and Christine Theisen from the counseling and intervention center for victims of domestic violence in Saarbrücken: Hundreds of victims a year
Image: Celine Kuklik
Corona has increased violence
The nationwide help line “Violence against Women” also recorded an increase of around five percent in the past year compared to the previous year. More than half of all cases involved domestic violence. When the annual report was presented at the end of June, the head of the helpline, Petra Söchting, said: “The discussions show that corona-related restrictions and stress are not the cause of domestic violence. But they increase the risk of conflictual situations escalating, violence is increasing and attacks are becoming more frequent and massive.”
Few men affected
Even if it is mainly women who come to the counseling and intervention center, men also look for help. “They often experience psychological violence, are humiliated or insulted by their partner, but also physically. But compared to the women affected by violence, their situation is usually not life-threatening,” says Theisen.
How the situation of affected men has developed compared to before the pandemic cannot be broken down by the “Violence against Men” help line. It was only founded at the end of April 2020 and started as a cooperation between the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.
In the second year of the pandemic, however, there were more contacts here as well. This is mainly due to a new, additional sponsor from Baden-Württemberg, says a spokesman for the responsible ministry in North Rhine-Westphalia.
High dark field
According to police crime statistics, cases of domestic violence increased nationwide in 2020. In Saarland they declined slightly, also in the following year. At the Saarland counseling and intervention center, however, the number of counseling increased. How can this be explained? “About a quarter of the women affected contacted us of their own accord, so the police did not contact them. Many were happy to simply be able to talk about their situation and get rid of a burden,” explains Theisen.
The Saarland State Police Headquarters also says: “A high level of unreported crimes in the area of domestic violence can be assumed. About 85 percent of crimes in this area are still not reported, or are only reported months or years later.” However, there are no reliable findings as to why exactly the numbers are declining, contrary to the assumption.
Individual offers of help
Figures for 2022 will not be available until next year. Nevertheless, Theisen and Rebmann are already noticing a slight increase again. “Corona is still present, albeit in the background. And there are other factors such as inflation or higher energy costs,” says Theisen.
Regardless of the cause of the domestic violence, the two counselors want to encourage those affected to get help. Because everyone has individual perspectives – and the right to a life without violence.