In Germany, the Federal Minister of Justice, Stephanie Hubig, has drawn attention to the alarming issue of domestic violence, indicating that the country is facing a 'huge problem with violence.' This statement comes in the wake of a report highlighting that a staggering 95% of domestic violence incidents remain unreported. Hubig's remarks are supported by findings from a collaboration involving the Ministry of Family Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), which collectively emphasize the urgency of addressing this hidden crisis.

In the report, it was stated that nearly half of women and 40% of men have experienced psychological violence at least once in their lifetime, underlining the pervasive nature of this issue within intimate relationships. Furthermore, the data reveals that 16% of respondents reported having been victims of physical violence, while sexual violence statistics indicate that 17.8% of women and 4.8% of men have faced sexual assault. These figures represent not just individual tragedies but also a significant societal concern, reflecting deep-rooted issues regarding gendered violence and the difficulties in reporting such incidents.

The Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, commented on these findings, expressing surprise at the extent of this hidden problem. The low reporting rates and high prevalence of various forms of violence portray domestic violence as a silent epidemic that afflicts many families in Germany. These revelations call for heightened awareness, improved support systems for victims, and stronger measures aimed at prevention, indicating a critical need for societal change to combat this escalating issue effectively.