Domestic Violence and COVID-19
BY CAROL H.
The UN has described the worldwide increase in
domestic abuse as a “shadow pandemic” alongside
COVID-19. It’s thought that cases have increased by
20% during the lockdown, as many people are trapped
at home with their abuser. For many, the corona crisis is
a challenge: more time at home, fewer social contacts,
and, on top of that, financial worries due to reduced
work or unemployment.
“We suspect that domestic violence has gone up here,
too,” says a staff member of the emergency hotline of
Hamburg‘s women‘s shelters. However, contrary to
expectations, no more women than usual are coming,
she says. The phones don‘t ring more often, either. For
many women, it is more difficult to seek help during
domestic conflicts because the men are more often
at home, the spokeswoman suspects. Organizations
are making the plea for neighbors not to look away.
Friends and neighbors sometimes offer the only link
for women who have been affected by violence to get
help.
Hamburg currently has six autonomous women’s
shelters. The sixth house, with room for 32 women,
opened in May. Unlike the other five shelters, this
shelter allows mothers to bring along sons older than
14. Hamburg thus offers protection to a total of 240
women and their children. In 2019, 512 women and
460 children found refuge in the houses. For security
reasons, the locations of the women‘s shelters are kept
secret. Women seeking help can call the emergency
reception center of the Hamburg women‘s shelters
around the clock. Support is provided to abused and
threatened victims, regardless of origin, language, or
income.
New Faces at LFR
BY CAROL H. AND JOANA O.
The Landesfrauenrat (LFR) elected a new board of
directors at this year’s Annual General Meeting, which
was held under COVID-19 regulations at the Rudolf
Steiner Haus in July. Elected for three years, the board
members represent six of the currently 59 clubs and
associations represented by the LFR.
fought for women’s rights since 1850 (and available as
an app).
We wish the new team continued success!
Petra Ackmann, from the Marie-Schlei-Verein e.V.,
is the chairwoman of the the new board, replacing
Cornelia Creisher who with her previous team has
been an outstanding spokeswoman for women’s causes
in Hamburg. A complete list of the activities sponsored
by the LFR in 2019, which AWCH supports through our
dues, is outlined in their annual report, which can be
viewed on their website. Highlights include sponsoring
and coordinating events for International Women’s
Day and 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage, political
lobbying for gender equality (#HamburgJetztGleich),
and an exciting kick-off to Frauenorten—a virtual map
marking 300 sites in Hamburg where women have
From left to right, upper row: Dr. Rita Bake (deputy treasurer), Dr. Susanna Bunge
(assessor), Christiane Klappert (deputy chair), Barbara Scholand (treasurer);
lower row: Silke Martini (assessor), Annika Huisinga (vice deputy chair) und Petra
Ackmann (chair)
www.awchamburg.org 13