The German Justice Minister, Stefanie Hubig of the SPD, is pushing for a significant overhaul of the legal system to combat the escalating rates of domestic and public violence against women, signaling a potential shift in Germany’s approach to perpetrator accountability. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Hubig emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the current legal framework fails adequately to protect women and demanding a comprehensive strategy.
While the recent cabinet approval of a bill introducing electronic monitoring (ankle bracelets) and anti-violence training programs for offenders represents a step forward, Hubig deems it insufficient. She has now publicly advocated for a strengthening of criminal law, specifically targeting instances of rape involving the use of incapacitating substances. “We will sharpen the penal code to hold perpetrators more accountable” she declared, indicating a move toward harsher sentencing guidelines for such offenses.
Hubig’s intervention comes ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25th), also known as “Orange Day” which this year focuses on public and online violence experienced by women and girls. She stressed the importance of ensuring women feel safe and free to navigate both physical and digital spaces without fear, underscoring this as a core issue of gender equality. “Women must be able to move through public and digital spaces as naturally as men.
Beyond legislative changes, Hubig acknowledged the strain on existing support services. She pointed out the current backlog in counseling services, noting lengthy waiting lists that extend far into the future, highlighting a severe lack of resources. Instead of scaling back, her goal is to actively work toward reducing all forms of violence-physical, verbal and image-based-by significantly expanding support infrastructure and preventative measures. The move signals potential internal political pressure within the SPD and the broader coalition government regarding the effectiveness of previous initiatives and a growing demand for more assertive action to protect women facing violence.
