Murder in Krailling: Politician calls for protection for women from femicides!

Murder in Krailling: Politician calls for protection for women from femicides!

In Krailling, the terrible news of the murder of a 29-year-old woman shocked the community. The incident took place last Saturday in the apartment of the mother of six, who was murdered by her husband, a suspect. The SPD Bundestag member Carmen Wegge, responsible for the Starnberg, Landsberg and Germering constituencies, expressed concern and called for urgent measures to prevent such acts of violence in the future. She emphasized the need to adequately punish gender-based violence and focused on recognizing femicides as murders of women based on their gender. Wegge pointed out that there had been several police operations due to domestic violence before the murder and that there was a court-imposed ban on contact with the victim's husband.

The brutal circumstances of this case shine a bright light on a serious social problem: violence against women. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, women have been committed to combating this violence for over 40 years, and yet these acts are still not decreasing. The term femicide describes the intentional killing of women because of their gender and is closely related to a relationship of power and control, which is often exercised by partners or ex-partners. A recent study shows that two thirds of femicides in Germany are committed by current or former partners. There is also a feeling of powerlessness in Krailling, considering that such acts usually do not arise from a spontaneous escalation, but are often the result of prolonged acts of control and violence.

The situation of those affected by violence

The number of unreported cases of violence against women is high; many cases remain undiagnosed. According to Statista, around 181,000 of the approximately 256,000 victims of domestic violence in 2023 were female. Domestic violence includes not only physical but also psychological attacks and is one of the most common forms of violence in Germany. A significant proportion of female acts of violence remain hidden because shame and guilt often lead those affected not to report it. In addition, there are only 378 women's shelters in Germany where women can find refuge - far too few places of protection when you consider that many women have to be turned away every day.

The Federal Agency for Civic Education emphasizes that it is time to improve the support services for women. Carmen Wegge is not only calling for more counseling centers and shelters, but also for the introduction of ankle bracelets for violent criminals. It is time for laws to be adapted to better protect women in dangerous situations and to give victims of violence the help they need. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is celebrated annually on November 25, but the question remains whether these symbolic actions will bring about real change.

A look at the future

The recent events in Krailling are making many people want change. It's about tackling structural problems and expanding preventive measures to not only combat violence against women, but to prevent it from the outset. A third to a quarter of perpetrators have psychological impairments, and many of them take their own lives after the crime. The handling of these complex situations must be improved in order to break the cycle of violence.

In this context, interdisciplinary cooperation between the institutions is also described as crucial. There is a need for a clear definition of femicide in German law as well as better data collection and analysis in order to be able to combat gender-based violence more effectively.

The voices for change and protection are becoming louder, and it is to be hoped that the tragic incident in Krailling was not in vain. Together we can ensure that no woman has to live in such circumstances again.

For more information on the issue of femicide and violence against women, read the reports on South Germans, bpb and Statista.