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Association women help women: "We don't leave the victims alone"

2021-02-15T08:04:40.689Z


The annual day of action "One Billion Rising" draws attention to violence against women. If someone suffers from domestic abuse, the association "Women Help Women" helps.


The annual day of action "One Billion Rising" draws attention to violence against women.

If someone suffers from domestic abuse, the association "Women Help Women" helps.

Wolfratshausen

- When the phone rings for "Women help women", the employees are on alert.

The Wolfratshauser Verein takes care of women who have to flee from a violent relationship.

The annual “One Billion Rising” day of action on Sunday drew attention to this topic.

The volunteers who run the women's shelter in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district are often the last straw that abused women can reach.

The move to the women's shelter, the location of which is never made public, involves great sacrifices.

Those who flee leave their old life behind, at least for a while.

That is why it is important to take the basic belongings, documents and records with you: "We have often had the painful experience that women can no longer access the things they have left in their apartments," says the association's co-founder and long-time employee Nicoline Pfeiffer.

It has already happened that the partner destroyed or hidden the things.

“We always advise taking the children into the women's shelter with you.” On the one hand, a custody dispute may be protracted, “on the other hand, the little ones are potentially at risk if they are left behind in a violent household,” says Pfeiffer.

Because even if the children are “only witnesses of the violence, they are always affected”.

Almost everyone who has experienced domestic violence "is afraid".

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Nicoline Pfeiffer, co-founder of the Wolfratshauser association "Women help women".

© Archive

An escape from the relationship must therefore be well planned if possible.

This is currently proving difficult: “Because of the corona pandemic, men are at home a lot and notice when the woman packs her things and prepares to flee,” says Pfeiffer.

The counselor and the victim look for a solution on the phone.

“We'll find an appointment and we'll explain what needs to be observed,” says Pfeiffer.

When they arrive at the safe women's shelter, advisors and the newcomers develop a safety concept: "With our help, the woman must assess where there is still danger for her," says Pfeiffer.

If the man goes to his victim's workplace or to school or kindergarten, that is a high risk.

"Sometimes the only thing that helps is to move to another district so that you and your children are no longer exposed to the impending danger." In other cases, an injunction that can be obtained from the local court makes sense.

"If the woman knows that her ex is not sticking to something like that, this legal protection is unfortunately of no use." In addition, there are some women who want to free themselves from their plight as possible without legal proceedings or the intervention of the police.

"All decisions are entirely up to the women, we are not pushing them to do anything," emphasizes Pfeiffer.

“We can only advise.” It is important to de-escalate the situation - and “that the victims can finally come to rest”.

The greatest wish of the residents of the women's shelter is to build a new life of their own and to lead a self-determined, non-violent life.

“We stand by your side,” says Pfeiffer.

Applications to the job center are part of this, as is the search for a job.

“We have to secure livelihoods.” Maintenance payments for children together can also be obtained.

“We don't leave the victims alone,” promises Pfeiffer.

Not every woman who dials the number of the Wolfratshauser Verein decides to move to the women's shelter: "We are happy to advise, listen to the problems and try to find a solution together." Anyone visiting the consultation rooms can do this anonymously on the phone would like to have to provide their personal data beforehand due to the corona pandemic.

Dominik Stallein

The emergency call

The Women Help Women Association can be reached around the clock on 08 17 1/1 86 80.

Consultation appointments are possible on workdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-02-15

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