Germany is proposing legislative changes aimed at strengthening protections against domestic violence, the Federal Ministry of Justice announced Monday. The proposed draft legislation, primarily amending the Protection Against Violence Act, would empower family courts to mandate electronic monitoring – specifically ankle bracelets – for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Alongside the potential use of electronic monitoring, the draft legislation would also grant family courts the authority to require offenders to participate in anti-violence training programs. Violations of protective orders, including no-contact directives, would also be subject to stricter penalties under the proposed changes.
Furthermore, the draft legislation contemplates allowing family courts to access information from the national firearms registry to improve risk assessments in cases involving protection against violence and child welfare.
“Our state must do more to combat domestic violence and we must, in particular, improve protections for women” stated Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig. She highlighted the frequency with which women in Germany are subjected to violence by current or former partners, emphasizing that almost every other day, a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner. “We must not become accustomed to this brutal violence.
The proposed changes reflect a commitment to proactively address domestic violence. Hubig indicated that electronic monitoring could prove life-saving, citing experiences in Spain. She added that prioritising the fight against domestic violence will be a central tenet of her legal policy agenda during her term, emphasizing that any instance of domestic violence is unacceptable.