Violence against women is also omnipresent in Germany. In Bavaria alone, around 16,000 cases of domestic violence against women were recorded by the police in 2020. That’s 44 cases a day. The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher. Every third day a woman dies in this country at the hands of her partner. In order to draw attention to this situation, the women of the four Zonta clubs in Munich have started a campaign that aims to permanently focus on the fight against violence against women.
On Friday, Helena Bommersheim, President of the Zonta Club in Munich City, unveiled a bright orange painted bench with Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens) on Sebastiansplatz. The sign posted there reads “Against Violence Against Women”. Next to it is a QR code that leads to an Internet address with offers of help for those affected.
Zonta is a global network of around 1,200 local clubs committed to improving the living conditions of women. “Violence against women in a civilized society is unacceptable,” says Zonta President Bommersheim. “We all have to take responsibility and ensure that the situation for women in this world is better.”
The bank on Sebastiansplatz is just the start of the new campaign. Orange benches will soon be in all 25 Munich districts and in schools. This is made possible primarily by donations from numerous supporters. In addition, Zonta advertises with celebrities who take a stand against violence against women, including Ilse Aigner, President of the State Parliament, Herbert Hainer, President of FC Bayern, and moderator Nina Ruge.
November 25th has been the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” since 1982. It is considered the prelude to the so-called “Orange Days”. Until Human Rights Day on December 10, public buildings were illuminated in orange under the motto “Orange your city” in order to draw attention to the topic. In Munich, these were, for example, the town hall, the BMW world and the arena in Fröttmaning. “In view of the current energy prices, however, we have decided to set a more sustainable and, above all, permanently visible sign,” says Helena Bommersheim.
After the unveiling, Mayor Katrin Habenschaden, who acts as patron of the project, was happy about the “clear but also beautiful sign” that the city was getting with the benches. She also referred to the new action plan against gender-based violence in the city of Munich. This provides for a concrete improvement in the situation over the next three years. “Signs alone are not enough, you also have to follow up with action,” said habenschaden.