German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig’s plans to restrict the contact of perpetrators of domestic violence with their children have received a positive response from various parties.
The CDU, CSU and SPD are in agreement that the rights of a father who physically abuses his partner must be significantly restricted, said Günter Krings, the CDU’s parliamentary group’s deputy leader, in an interview with the Funke Media Group’s Monday editions. This is not about punishment, but about the protection of children, as they are often affected by such violence and cannot cope with it. “Someone who uses violence in this form is unlikely to be a good father” the CDU official explained, expressing his delight at the minister’s prioritization of this proposal in the coalition.
The opposition also welcomes the SPD minister’s initiative, but urges haste. “Whoever uses violence against their partner cannot get the right to care for children in the event of a separation. This rule is long overdue” said Helge Limburg, the Greens’ parliamentary group’s right-wing spokesperson, in an interview with the Funke newspapers.
Limburg, however, criticizes the black-red coalition for not building on the work done under the previous government. “Considering the groundwork of the last legislative period, there is no plausible reason why the law was not included in the federal government’s immediate program” he said, concluding that the fight against domestic violence in families is “apparently unfortunately not a priority” for this coalition.
Hubig had announced plans to reform the contact and care rights of parents in the context of the fight against domestic violence. She said that anyone who physically abuses their partner must expect to no longer see their children, or only in the presence of a chaperone. Until now, the care and contact rights of a parent could be restricted only if the child itself was a victim of violence, not if the partner was affected. Professional associations have been calling for a reform for a long time.