The number of femicides in Germany remains shockingly high. In 2023 and 2024 alone, well over 600 women were killed – a nearly daily crime. Former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser publicly presented a situation report on gender-based violence against women for the first time in November 2024, stating, "We see a femicide in Germany almost every day." This highlights the alarming extent of this form of violence, which is often committed by partners or ex-partners.
Political Responsibility: Hypocrisy and Failure
While these shocking figures continue to come to light, political hypocrisy is particularly evident within the AfD, which presents itself as a "party of protection" for women but offers no solutions to gender-based violence. On the contrary, the AfD regularly blocks measures to strengthen women's rights and expand support services for victims of violence.
Blocking Violence Protection Programs: The AfD rejects measures such as the Istanbul Convention, which sets legally binding standards for combating violence against women.
Opposition to Funding for Women’s Shelters: In several state parliaments, the AfD voted against increased funding for women's shelters and safe spaces for victims of violence.
Trivializing Domestic Violence: In debates, the AfD often portrays gender-based violence as an "exaggerated problem" or "isolated cases," despite statistics proving otherwise.
But the CDU/CSU has also failed in this area. It often prides itself on being the "party of security," yet has for years insufficiently supported the expansion of safe spaces for women and opposed consistent prosecution of domestic violence. Despite rising numbers, funding for women's shelters and counseling centers has not been adequately increased for a long time.
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, a total of 120,000 women were victims of intimate partner violence in 2022, with over 300 fatalities. The dark figure is likely much higher. The fact that more than 600 femicides were recorded in 2023 and 2024 combined shows that Germany has not just an individual but a structural problem.
Political Action Needed Instead of Populist Rhetoric
Combating femicides and violence against women must not be blocked by political hypocrisy. The AfD pursues a policy of trivialization and obstruction, while the CDU does not act decisively enough. Comprehensive measures are needed:
Increased Funding for Women’s Shelters: Access to safe accommodations for victims of violence must be significantly expanded.
Faster Protection Measures for Threatened Women: Police and judicial authorities must be enabled to protect women quickly and effectively.
Stricter Penalties for Perpetrators: Those who commit violence against women must be prosecuted and punished more consistently.
Consistent Implementation of the Istanbul Convention: Germany must ensure that this international agreement to combat violence against women applies in all areas of life.
A Society Reflected in Violence
But the problem goes deeper. It is not just a question of laws but of societal attitudes. As long as women who experience violence are dismissed as "isolated cases" and politicians downplay the seriousness of the situation, nothing will change. As long as perpetrators get away with mild sentences, violence against women will remain a daily reality.
In a society that likes to see itself as enlightened and progressive, femicides are a grim reminder that the protection of women's rights often exists more on paper than in reality. And as long as right-wing parties like the AfD misuse women's rights for populist rhetoric while simultaneously blocking measures, any of their claims about "protection" are nothing but hypocrisy.
Germany needs more than outrage. It needs action. It needs a policy that protects women instead of betraying them.
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