Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) applauded the widening discussion about violence against women, but she also pointed out that important aspects are still missing.
“Violence against women has many faces, not just headline cases” she told the “Rheinische Post” in its Saturday edition. “This everyday violence in Germany drives me; I want to address it. It is good that it is now broadly debated and that protection from violence should be expanded. But honestly, the debate isn’t complete” she added.
Klöckner stressed that all facets of the problem must be tackled. “Forced marriages, for example, are violence. There are also hundreds of gang rapes each year, and the alleged rape of a 16‑year‑old by an Arab‑descendant suspect in a youth centre in Neukölln last week. Where are the demonstrations?” she asked.
She argued that criticism of such injustices should be possible without being labelled racist. “Violence against women, across all cultural and religious groups, must be condemned in every form” the CDU politician said. “Legal refinements to better protect women – even in cases of digital violence – are overdue”.
In addition to urging lawmakers, Klöckner called on men to engage. “Violence against women is not just a women’s issue but a societal one. Fathers, in particular, have an influence on their sons and daughters” she said. “Men must model gender‑equal relationships, teach violence‑free behaviour and respect for the other gender. That is the key to societal progress” she concluded.