Electronic Ankle Monitors to Enhance Domestic Violence Protection in Saarland
In a unanimous vote, the Saarland State Parliament has passed a law to strengthen the enforcement of contact and approach bans, aimed at safeguarding women from domestic violence perpetrated by former partners.
Innovative Technology
The new legislation introduces electronic ankle monitors as a tool to effectively monitor compliance with protection orders. This technology will enable threatened individuals to voluntarily record their location and movements, providing concrete evidence of violations against contact bans.
Urgent Need for Protection
The law’s proponents emphasize the urgent need to address the "enforcement deficit" associated with approach and contact bans. Statistics reveal a significant increase in violent crimes against women in Germany during the past year, with over 180,000 reported victims of "gender-specific offenses against women" in 2023.
"Every measure that protects a woman and shields a child from violence is a step towards a brighter future," stated Christina Baltes (SPD). She expressed regret that efforts to amend the nationwide Violence Protection Act at the federal level had not materialized. "Our goal must be to establish electronic surveillance on a federal level as well," she stressed.
Interior Minister Reinhold Jost (SPD) also underscored the necessity of a comprehensive federal law, asserting, "We cannot afford a patchwork of regulations."
States Take the Lead
Anja Wagner-Scheid (CDU) noted that several states, including Saxony, Hesse, and now Saarland, have taken independent action because the federal government has "failed to deliver."
In 2023, 167,000 cases of domestic violence were reported, with 155 out of 360 women murdered that year killed by their current or former partners. "For women, their own homes are the most dangerous places," she lamented.
Roland Theis (CDU) declared, "In a constitutional state, it must be: victim protection takes precedence over the privacy of perpetrators. That’s what we’re doing today, and it sends a strong message."
Milestone in Protection
Magnus Jung (SPD), Minister for Women’s Affairs, hailed the new law as a "milestone" that significantly enhances the protection of women. "It is high time we fully utilize the tools available to counter this problem," he said, echoing the call for a unified federal approach.
Imported Sexual Violence
However, Christoph Schaufert (AfD) contended that some sexual violence is "imported." AfD parliamentary group chairman Josef Dörr alleged that since borders had become uncontrolled and "refugees, asylum seekers, intruders, or whatever" had been allowed to cross, "the statistics have skyrocketed."
For using the term "intruders," Dörr was reprimanded by session president Dagmar Heib (CDU).
Legal Consequences and Additional Measures
The electronic ankle monitor may be ordered by a court when there is a risk of offenses "against another person’s body, life, or freedom" or a "crime against sexual self-determination." Violations of the order can result in imprisonment for up to two years.
Alongside this legislation, lawmakers also acknowledged the recently passed Violence Aid Act, which grants women a legal right to protection and counseling.
