A German Justice Minister’s Proposal to Enhance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence
German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has announced plans to restrict the right of parents to see their children in cases of domestic violence, in an effort to better protect women and children from abuse. According to Hubig, the new measures will ensure that the law clearly states that a parent’s right to see their child can be limited or even revoked if they are found to have committed violence against the other parent. The minister emphasized that the child suffers as a result of the abuse and that the new law will prioritize the child’s well-being.
Hubig also indicated that the restriction of the right to see one’s child could be justified in cases of psychological abuse, such as severe verbal attacks or threats. Currently, the right to see one’s child can only be restricted if the child itself is a victim of abuse, not if the partner is the victim.
Furthermore, the minister plans to reform the rental law to better protect victims of domestic violence. She believes that those affected by domestic violence should be able to quickly and easily terminate a joint rental agreement, even if the former partner is unwilling to cooperate. Many victims of domestic violence struggle to start anew in a different apartment due to the lengthy process of terminating a joint agreement.
Hubig does not believe that a single measure, such as the ability of family courts to order electronic monitoring, is sufficient to address the issue of domestic violence. Instead, she plans to empower family courts to order anti-violence training and to improve the protection of victims of domestic violence in the context of child custody and visitation rights.