Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) welcomed the widening debate on violence against women while pointing out areas that still need attention.
In a statement to the ”Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition) she said, “Violence against women takes many forms, and it is not only the high‑profile cases”. She added that everyday abuse in Germany “disturbs me, and it’s something I want to address”. Klöckner praised the broadening conversation and the push to enhance protection, but admitted that “the debate is not entirely honest”.
She stressed that all facets of gender‑based violence should be openly discussed. “Forced marriages are a form of violence, as are the hundreds of gang rapes that happen each year and the alleged rape of a 16‑year‑old by an Arab‑descended suspect in a youth centre in Neukölln. Where are the demonstrations?” she asked.
Klöckner called for criticism of injustices to be possible without being labelled racist. “Violence against women across all cultural and religious groups must be condemned in all its forms” she said. She urged legislative reforms to better protect women, including from digital abuse, as such changes “are overdue”.
She also appealed for male involvement, noting that violence against women is not just a women’s issue but a societal one. “Men-especially fathers-have a key influence on their sons and daughters” she said. “They must model equality, teach non‑violence and respect for the other gender. That is the key to societal progress”.
