The German Federal Ministry of Justice has announced a draft law aimed at strengthening legal protections against covert voyeurism and addressing gaps in existing criminal law. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) emphasized the need to ensure women can move freely and confidently in public spaces, framing this as a critical component of gender equality.
The initiative follows mounting concerns regarding the prevalence of digital voyeurism and the inadequacy of current legal frameworks to adequately address the experiences of women and girls. While many offensive acts already fall under existing criminal statutes, Hubig acknowledged that the current penal code is not sufficiently equipped to handle the spectrum of boundary violations increasingly observed in public.
The Ministry is currently examining how to effectively and constitutionally regulate digital voyeurism, with a stated goal of presenting a practical and actionable draft bill soon. This development is closely linked to the recent case of a young woman in Cologne who was filmed by a man while jogging, sparking public outcry and highlighting the need for a more robust legal response.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach (Greens) has been particularly vocal in advocating for harsher penalties. He pointed to the incongruity of criminalizing fare evasion while failing to address the covert filming or photographing of intimate body parts. “Our legal system has the wrong priorities” Limbach stated, arguing for a comprehensive overhaul of sexual offense laws. He further emphasized that the presence of clothing or the victim’s ability to defend themselves against recordings should not be a determining factor in establishing criminal liability.
Limbach underscored the responsibility of the state to protect women and young girls from sexually suggestive comments and unwanted attention, even in the absence of physical contact. He expects the upcoming Justice Minister Conference to serve as a clear signal of this commitment, advocating for a broadened definition of sexual offenses to encompass a wider range of intrusive behaviors. The proposed legislative reforms represent a politically charged effort to address a growing societal concern and potentially redefine the state’s role in safeguarding women’s rights and personal safety.