Doorbell signs without names can be seen at the women's and children's shelter.
© dpa
There is now another refuge for victims of domestic violence in Berlin: at a cost of around €2.5 million, the ninth women's and children's shelter has been built in the south of the capital, offering space for 26 families in 10 apartments.
According to the Senate Social Administration, 18 women and 13 children have been accommodated there since mid-January.
Social workers offer residents psychosocial counseling, and according to the information provided, there is also a psychologist. Two educators provide educational support for children. To protect those affected, the address of the facility remains confidential. Its operator is a member of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Berlin (Parity Welfare Association Berlin). With the opening of the new facility, Berlin now has 393 family places with 859 beds for women affected by violence and their children.
With the new shelter, Berlin has created another place where women and children can live safely, explained Senator for Social Affairs and Equality Cansel Kiziltepe at the official opening of the shelter. The new facility focuses on women with children. "This is because children usually make up more than half of the residents in the shelters," said the SPD politician. The new Violence Protection Act guarantees them an independent right to protection and counseling. "With the ninth women's shelter, Berlin is one step closer to fully implementing the Istanbul Convention," Kiziltepe explained. According to the guidelines, Berlin must provide a total of 390 family places, which are available to affected women free of charge. According to the information available, there are currently a total of 239 such family places in the capital. According to the Senate Social Administration, additional places are to be created this year.
In addition, women and their children can find shelter in so-called refuge apartments. According to the Senate Administration, there are an additional 154 family places available there. However, those affected must finance the rent themselves or provide proof of cost coverage. According to the Social Administration, around €37.5 million is available in this year's budget for violence protection, including federal funds, and €43.1 million for next year. In addition, the Berlin House of Representatives has made a total of around €19.3 million available for the creation and operation of new places for the years 2026 and 2027.
The aim of the Istanbul Convention of 2011 is to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. The signatory states undertake to take political and legal measures to combat gender-based violence. The treaty entered into force in August 2014 and has been in force in Germany since February 2018. According to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), more than 187,000 female victims of domestic violence were registered nationwide in 2024. Experts assume that the actual number is higher because not all cases are reported. According to the figures, a total of 265,942 people were affected by domestic violence – more than ever before. According to the BKA, this represents an increase of 3.7 percent compared to the previous year. In purely statistical terms, this means that one person became a victim every two minutes. According to the data, 70.5 percent of victims in 2023 were female.