Lübeck's new bench honors women's rights and fights gender-based violence

Lübeck (ots)Standing Together Against Violence Toward Women and Girls

On March 8, 2026, the world will mark International Women's Day. Ahead of the occasion, Lübeck's Autonomous Women's Shelter and the Aufschwung association presented a special bench to the city's police on Thursday afternoon. Positioned prominently in front of the government building, the bench sends a clear message against violence toward women.

International Women's Day draws global attention to women's rights, gender equality, persistent discrimination, and the right to live free from the threat of violence. By installing this bench outside the administrative high-rise on Possehlstraße, the police and the Autonomous Women's Shelter are making a statement: violence against women has no place in our society. At the same time, the bench offers a space for reflection. Violence is not just an individual issue—it is a societal one.

The Autonomous Women's Shelter, local network partners, and the police serve as points of contact for those affected. They invite the public to sit on the orange bench and take a stand against violence toward women and girls. The bench was made possible through a collaboration between the police and the Autonomous Women's Shelter, with financial support from Aufschwung e.V., which funded its purchase.

A recent dark field study by Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth—titled "Everyday Safety and Burdens (LeSuBiA)"—revealed that women are significantly more likely to experience physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Despite the high prevalence of such crimes, fewer than 5% of cases are ever reported. The number of unreported incidents of violence and sexual offenses remains alarmingly high. Violence can take many forms, including repeated humiliation, verbal abuse, threats, isolation, coercive control, property damage, sexual assault, physical injury, and even homicide.

The police take every reported case of violence against women seriously. Specially trained officers at all protective police stations and within the criminal investigation division provide support to victims of domestic violence.

The police's dual mandate—prosecuting offenders and preventing further harm—includes measures such as eviction orders and restraining or no-contact directives. A well-coordinated support network ensures the best possible protection for victims while holding perpetrators accountable early on. This is achieved through collaboration with local partners, including the Autonomous Women's Shelter.

"Give and Take"—this year's International Women's Day theme—highlights the power of collective action in advancing gender equality.