Book Launch Spotlights Femicides in Germany, Highlights Gaps in Support for Perpetrators
Freelance journalist Carolin Haentjes presented her book 'Femicides - Women Murders in Germany' at the Lichtspiel theater in Schneverdingen, raising awareness about femicides on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The event, organized by Schneverdingen's equal opportunities officer Agnes Klör, brought together local support system actors to discuss the issue and their cooperation.
Haentjes uses the term 'femicide' to describe the killing of a woman for gender-specific reasons, often a planned crime rather than an extreme escalation of domestic violence. She compares the dynamics of femicides to those of school shooters, with a high 'pressure to act' and a desire for destruction, often resulting in 'overkill'. Recent examples in the region have seen perpetrators using excessive violence, such as inflicting multiple stab wounds or firing an entire magazine at close range.
Haentjes shared case studies of women and men connected in unhealthy, toxic relationships, with the woman often dominated and beaten by her husband. Despite being a police officer, one woman couldn't break free from her abusive husband due to fear and the belief that divorce wasn't an option. Local support system actors, including police, victim support, and women's shelter representatives, attended the event to discuss the issue and their cooperation. However, there is a gap in the local support system: a lack of a contact point and support for violent men who want to change their behavior.
Snowden's mayor, Meike Moog-Steffens, emphasized the need for legislation to sustainably reduce violence against women. However, attendees expressed low trust in current laws. The Heidekreis region offers support for violent men who want to change their behavior through local counseling centers or specialized programs for behavioral change and violence prevention, but the exact organization name is not specified.
Carolin Haentjes' book presentation and the subsequent discussion highlighted the pressing issue of femicides in the region. While local support systems are in place for victims, there's a need for better assistance for perpetrators who wish to change their behavior. Attendees called for stronger legislation to protect women, despite low trust in current laws. Further collaboration among local actors is essential to tackle this complex problem.
