Rhineland-Palatinate Joins Nationwide Helpline for Men Facing Violence
With a commitment to providing swift and unbureaucratic help, Rhineland-Palatinate will be part of the nationwide helpline for men experiencing violence. This was announced by Family Minister Katharina Binz (Greens) recently. She emphasized that individuals dealing with violence deserve easy access to assistance and support.
The state will contribute additional staff hours to the "SAFE!" counseling center in Mainz, specifically for male victims of violence in close relationships. This center will now join the nationwide hotline. The helpline offers free and confidential advice, featuring an anonymous telephone number and online help services.
Violence against men often carries a stigma and is associated with shame, explained a ministry spokeswoman. Despite the misconception that most victims are women, men are also subjected to such violence.
Various organizations across Germany operate the nationwide men's helpline. These include man-o-mann Männerberatung in Bielefeld, AWO Augsburg, the social counseling service in Stuttgart, and the Pfunzkerle specialist center in Tübingen, among others. This initiative was launched in 2020 by the state governments of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, followed by Baden-Württemberg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Some noteworthy support services across Germany include:
- The Anti-Discrimination Agency, accessible at 0800-546 546 5 or [email protected], offers assistance against discrimination, including violence and harassment.
- Counseling centers for the LGBTQIA+ community are abundant in cities like Berlin. GLADT e.V., for instance, offers counseling in multiple languages [1].
- For victims of domestic violence, nationwide initiatives provide support, though Rhineland-Palatinate's specific contributions remain unspecified [4].
For detailed information regarding Rhineland-Palatinate's participation in the men's helpline, local or regional resources should be consulted.
