Bundesfamilienministerin Karin Prien (CDU) argues that violence is a societal problem that extends beyond domestic abuse to include digital‑space aggression, as she explained on the ARD “Tagesthemen”. She called for better counselling and support for people who file complaints and highlighted measures that go beyond legal prosecution.
Prien stressed that “violence can never be a means of dispute resolution”. She urged that families, kindergartens and schools discuss the issue more openly and take it seriously. She cited men’s uncertainty about their gender role as another factor that fuels conflict.
According to studies, women suffer the majority of violent incidents, but Prien insists that the situation of boys and men must also be addressed. “It is a question of education” she said, adding that kindergartens and schools need to take on a larger responsibility.
A recent study also identified migration as a contributing factor. Prien warned that “we must take this very seriously and investigate why women with a migration background are disproportionately exposed to violence”.
The CDU politician announced that funding for the Violence Assistance Act will begin on 1 January 2027. “The 2.6 billion euros that the federal government will make available to municipalities and states will start being disbursed in 2027” she stated. She also noted that it will take several years to meet the actual demand, and that demand analyses are currently underway in the individual states.
Prien further emphasized the need for periodic studies with comparable data, a requirement made binding by recent EU legislation. The collection of such data is being coordinated with the Interior Ministry and the Federal Criminal Police Office.
