Safety in women’s shelters
Theme Week: Orange the World - "16 Days Against Violence Against Women"
In recent weeks, reports of misogyny and violence against women have increased—whether in the media or on platforms like LinkedIn. Particularly disturbing was the attention that so-called incels attracted with slogans like “Your body, my choice.” Or the targeted online attacks on Annalena Baerbock. But what shook me the most were the hard facts from Germany. These were presented by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Minister for Women Lisa Paus on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- 140 women and girls become victims of a sexual offense in Germany every day
- Every three minutes, a woman or girl experiences violence in her own home – and these are only the cases recorded by the police
- Almost every day in Germany there is a femicide.
- In 2023, 938 girls and women were victims of attempted or completed femicides, 360 of them lost their lives.
This problem knows no borders. It affects not only Germany or other European countries. Here in Switzerland, every two weeks a woman is killed by a man close to her, and every week one survives such an attempt. The number of unreported cases is probably shockingly high. Women’s shelters are therefore indispensable safe spaces – they save lives
A story that far too many share
These numbers show the extent of a societal problem that many prefer to remain silent about – supposedly it always only affects “the others.” But the truth is: many affected remain silent out of shame, even though they are not perpetrators but victims. I am part of the dark figure. Among the three out of four children who have witnessed violence in their home. In my case, it was my father’s violence against my mother – and also against me. When parental relationships are marked by violence, children often take on roles that are not theirs. I became the “mother of my mother” and felt responsible for protecting her, preventing violence, or mitigating the inevitable. This environment shapes you – it makes you resilient but also leaves scars. Later, in my first relationship, I found myself in a pattern that I never wanted to experience. My ex-guy (a real friend doesn’t do that) showed similar behaviors to my father. “How could this happen to me?” was my first thought. I, who was so loud against the violence my mother had to endure. But when you have had a traumatic childhood where unhealthy relationship patterns were modeled for you and the bond with the primary caregiver was also disturbed, you are very susceptible as an adult to reliving everything. But I didn’t want to share the same fate and sought help. My mother couldn’t help – she fell back into old roles. But I found support: in a women’s shelter. There, I not only received protection but also the opportunity to reorganize my life and regain control. For that, I am grateful to this day.
Switzerland and Germany: Challenges and Security Issues of Women’s Shelters
Women’s shelters play a crucial role in protecting and supporting women who have become victims of domestic violence. In Switzerland and Germany, these facilities not only provide safe spaces but also extensive support in various areas of life. They offer psychological care to process trauma, provide legal advice to find ways out of the cycle of violence, and assist with finding housing and career reorientation so that affected women can lead a self-determined life in the long term. Based on the women’s shelter resident statistics from FHK (2023), it is estimated that at least 14,000 women with 16,000 children find protection in German women’s shelters annually. In the 23 houses in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2427 women and children found protection and accommodation in 2023. Despite their vital importance, women’s shelters face numerous challenges – including financial constraints, societal stigmatization, and severe security issues
Security issues in women’s shelters
A central issue affecting both Switzerland and Germany is the security in women’s shelters. Perpetrators repeatedly attempt to determine the whereabouts of their victims, endangering both the staff and the affected women. The following aspects are particularly critical:
- Digital surveillance and tracking
Through modern technologies, such as GPS tracking of smartphones or hidden spyware, perpetrators repeatedly succeed in determining the location of women - Physical attacks on facilities
There are repeated reports of violent assaults on women’s shelters, where perpetrators attempt to forcibly gain access to the facilities - Staff shortage and stress
The security situation is exacerbated by the staff shortage in many women’s shelters. Understaffed teams cannot always ensure that safety regulations are fully complied with - Anonymous addresses and their limitations
Many women’s shelters work with anonymous addresses to protect their residents. However, these are often not completely secure, as anonymity can be compromised by leaks, such as inadequately trained partner organizations or authorities
Possible solution approach: Technological upgrade
Many women’s shelters already rely on video surveillance to better protect their residents. However, permanent monitoring by human personnel, who oversee camera images around the clock, is often not feasible financially or in terms of staffing. Residents of women’s shelters have often had traumatic experiences and are particularly sensitive to measures that might seem like control or constant observation. This is where AI-based video surveillance comes into play, redefining security in a completely new way. AI-based technologies offer a privacy-friendly and discreet solution, as they do not need to be constantly monitored. These systems act like intelligent sensors: they analyze their environment in real-time and only intervene when a potential threat is detected. Unlike conventional video surveillance, which requires a human team to constantly monitor camera images, these systems operate fully automatically. Only in the event of an alarm do authorized security teams or personnel gain access to the relevant images to assess the situation and respond appropriately
- Only when the AI detects a threat (e.g., through weapons, aggression and violence, or attempted break-ins), an alarm is triggered to the staff of the women’s shelter or a 24/7 security team.
- At this moment, access to the live images is granted to the trained personnel to review the situation.
- If it is indeed a threat, the police can be notified immediately – similar to a silent alarm in banks.
This approach ensures safety without violating the privacy of the residents or triggering a sense of control.
Cloud and edge-based subscription solutions with 24/7 security operations center: Making security accessible to everyone
Modern security technologies offer innovative protection mechanisms that have not only become effective but also more flexible and affordable. Until now, advanced surveillance systems with features such as violence, aggression, and weapon detection were often very expensive and financially unfeasible for facilities like women’s shelters. The high acquisition costs for hardware, licenses, and ongoing expenses for personnel to manage these systems were simply not achievable for many women’s shelters.
Thanks to cloud and edge-based subscription models with a 24/7 security control center, these conditions are changing. These solutions make cutting-edge technologies accessible to women’s shelters while offering a high degree of flexibility.
- Cost efficiency: Instead of high one-time acquisition costs, subscription models allow access to the latest technology for a predictable monthly fee
- Scalability: Systems can be expanded or adapted as needed, for example, when new premises are added or additional security requirements arise
- Simple integration: Cloud and edge technologies can be installed without much effort, reducing the entry barrier for women’s shelters
- Professional support: The 24/7 security control center provides round-the-clock access to trained personnel who assess threat situations in real-time and quickly initiate appropriate measures – from notifying the police to on-site support
These modern, flexible, and affordable security solutions enable women’s shelters to significantly increase their protection standards without overburdening their budget. They thus create a realistic opportunity to optimally utilize even limited resources and effectively protect residents.
Conclusion
These numbers and stories show how urgent the need for action is – but also how much can be achieved through targeted measures. It is time to stand up for women and actively enhance their safety. For me, this issue is deeply personal. As someone who has experienced domestic violence, I know how paralyzing the fear can be and how great the hurdles can be to seek help. I know what it feels like when your own safety suddenly depends on others, and how difficult it is to muster the courage to regain control over your own life. Women’s shelters and other support services are lifesavers. But they alone are not enough. We all bear responsibility: as a society, as a political community, as individuals – and also as businesses. Companies and technology providers can and should contribute to developing affordable and effective security concepts so that affected institutions, which are financially at their limit, can afford security.
Every person deserves protection, respect, and the opportunity to lead a self-determined life—free from violence and fear. It is up to all of us to stand together and offer those affected not only a helping hand but also secure prospects.
For a self-determined life: My Body, My Choice – And no one has the right to violate that, neither physically nor psychologically
Sources
- tagesspiegel.de: Misogynistic crimes: Violence against women – almost every day a femicide
- unicef: Focus: Never Violence Against Children
- watson: Women’s shelters across the country at their limit
- Women’s Shelters Annual Report Switzerland 2023
- Women’s Shelter Coordination Germany
Anne-Katrin Michelmann
Date: 26/11/2024