More money for violence protection and prevention in Saxony

In Saxony, significantly more money is available for crime prevention, protection against violence and victim counseling following the adoption of the double budget in June. This year and next year, around 29 million euros have been earmarked for measures to protect against violence, according to the Green parliamentary group in the Saxon state parliament.

The party achieved a further increase in these funds during the budget negotiations. As can be seen from the amendments adopted by the Green parliamentary group in the Budget and Finance Committee during the budget negotiations, around €3.95 million more is available across several areas than in the original government draft. Crime prevention, criminological research, agencies and projects for the protection against violence, counseling for perpetrators and counseling centers for victims of right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence will benefit from the additional funds.

In Saxony's major cities, the money will benefit institutions such as the shelter for refugee women in Leipzig, the violence protection center in Dresden and the perpetrator counseling center Handschlag of the Caritas Association Chemnitz, according to a statement from the Green parliamentary group.

Katja Meier: Every fourth woman experiences violence

"Whether a person finds protection from violence should not depend on where they live. Every woman, every child, every person affected must be able to find refuge and safety in an emergency," said Katja Meier, spokesperson on gender equality for the Green parliamentary group in the Saxon state parliament. One in four women experience violence from their partner or ex-partner in the course of their lives. The new double budget of the black-red minority government will help to expand and improve the existing services with a view to the federal Violence Assistance Act.

From 2032, the law will for the first time provide a legal entitlement to free counseling for victims of violence. The federal states are therefore obliged to create enough shelters and services from 2027. The federal government will contribute to the funding in future. The federal states will receive additional funding totaling 2.6 billion euros for the years 2027 to 2036.