Interior ministers want to bring violence against women "out of the dark"

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Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) with his departmental colleagues Thomas Strobl (CDU, Baden-Württemberg), Joachim Herrmann (CSU, Bavaria)

Photo: Philipp von Ditfurth / dpa

The federal and state interior ministers want to intensify the fight against violence against women.

These crimes should be brought out of the dark field, said the chairman of the conference of interior ministers, Thomas Strobl (CDU), in Rust, Baden.

“Shame is not a solution.

It only helps the perpetrators, who then get away scot-free, "said the CDU politician at the end of the ministers' meeting.

Therefore, one wants to record misogynist crimes in the police statistics more precisely.

Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) welcomed this announcement.

"Even the dark field - especially in the case of intimate partner violence - must be illuminated much more strongly." With more precise data, it is possible to further develop prevention strategies and ensure effective prosecution.

The interior ministers also want to combat the increasing attacks on journalists - and examine further protective measures.

In order to preserve the freedom of the press in Germany, it is important that media representatives can carry out their work free from attempted intimidation, according to a draft by the department heads.

A working group is to clarify by the next conference of interior ministers in autumn whether further measures are necessary.

The decision goes back to an initiative by Thuringia.

The number of crimes against journalists has doubled

Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) pointed out that attacks on journalists were reported after “almost every major“ lateral thinking ”demonstration in the past year.

"We have to attest that the number of crimes against journalists more than doubled in 2020 compared to the previous year," explained Maier.

The revision of the code of conduct between the police and the press has not yet been completed.

Maier said the code of conduct had to be adapted to new developments.

On behalf of the Conference of Interior Ministers, a working group is to present the results of a federal-state working group on the revision of the "Code of Conduct for the Press / Broadcasting and Police" by autumn.

The revision of the 1993 Code of Conduct has been an issue for a long time.

Under the impression of recurring attacks on journalists at demos, the press council, as a voluntary self-regulation of the press, had already submitted its own proposal for an amendment in December.

The panel calls on the police to provide more protection for reporters at demonstrations.

Activists demonstrate against deportations

On the sidelines of the conference of interior ministers, activists from various organizations demonstrated against a policy of deportation and isolation. Several dozen young people held a rally in front of Europa-Park in Rust. "The people in the Mediterranean are no longer allowed to drown," said Michaela Rüsse from the Freiburg pier. She spoke out in favor of sea rescue and an evacuation of the camps on the Greek island of Lesbos. In addition, one should not deport people to crisis areas, but should invest in them. The Seebrücke movement is committed to civilian sea rescue, safe escape routes to Europe and the permanent admission of refugees to Germany.

The subject of deportations is controversial among the interior ministers of the Union and the SPD.

Half a year after the ban on deportation for Syria expired, the federal government has not yet sent anyone back there.

Union interior ministers like Baden-Württemberg's head of department Strobl want to enable more deportations.

mrc / dpa