BERLIN, 23 (DPA/EP)
Victims of domestic violence in Germany will be better protected in the future thanks to electronic shackles for abusers, according to a bill proposed by the previous German cabinet in January and now being prepared by the Ministry of Justice based on a model currently in place in Spain.
The bill envisions that, in the future, family courts could require abusers to wear such a device to determine their location.
"Our state must do more against domestic violence," declared Social Democrat Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig today. "We must better protect women in particular," she added.
If the attacker approaches, the victim receives an alert via a receiver and "can flee to safety or seek help in time," according to the document obtained by DPA. Police will also be automatically alerted when an attacker is approaching their potential victim.
"Every few minutes, a woman is attacked by her partner or ex-partner in Germany," Hubig said. "Almost every two days, a man kills his partner or ex-partner. We must not get used to this brutal violence. We must resolutely combat domestic violence."
Electronic anklets could save lives, the minister expressed her conviction. "It's time we used this tool throughout Germany to protect women in particular from domestic violence," she added.
The bill establishes that "the introduction of electronic monitoring of the place of residence as a measure under the Protection Against Violence Act may contribute, in specific cases, to preventing homicides or serious injuries."
Not only could the victim be alerted sooner, but the attackers might behave differently if they know they're being watched. "Overall, this can help save the lives and physical integrity of victims," the draft states.
The shackle will be used in high-risk cases and for a limited time. Initially, judges may order it for a maximum of six months. It can be extended for three months at a time if the victim requests it and the judge deems the danger persists, according to the draft.
The planned amendment to the Protection Against Violence Act aims to create federal regulations. More than 250,000 people were victims of domestic violence in Germany in 2023, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office's (BKA) report on the domestic violence situation.
Experts estimate that many cases go unreported. Most victims of domestic violence are women, and the vast majority of suspects are men.
Domestic violence figures for 2024 have not yet been officially released. According to a report by the newspaper 'Welt am Sonntag,' last year saw a record 265,942 people affected. The newspaper cites figures from the BKA.
SPAIN AS A MODEL
The German Ministry of Justice's plans are based on the Spanish model. According to the project, there have been no deaths related to the introduction of electronic shackles for offenders in 2009.
Hubig also wants to introduce a requirement for family courts to compel abusers to attend anti-violence training courses.
In addition, family court judges will be able to request information from the weapons registry. The goal is to better assess the danger. The penalties for violating the Law on Protection against Violence will also be increased, increasing from a fine or a maximum of two years in prison, as is currently the case, to a fine or up to three years in prison.
![Trump suspends aid to Colombia during dispute over anti-drug focus.](https://uruguayaldia.com.uy/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/sot-petro-00-00-42-08-still003-1-150x150.jpg "Trump suspends aid to Colombia after accusing Petro of being a "drug trafficking leader" 1")
