The status quo, per the BMBFSFJ needs assessment 2026
The needs assessment published by the German Federal Ministry in January 2026 shows an uneven picture: half of municipalities have some coordinating office for violence protection, often housed with equality officers. But only 27.3% pursue an overarching strategy. The 47 recommendations in the report speak directly to this gap between scattered responsibility and an actual, unified strategy.
Opportunities of digitalization in violence protection
Digital tools can help in several areas: faster capacity coordination between shelters, more secure case handoff between institutions without breaks in medium, and reliable, GDPR-compliant data for municipal planning. None of this replaces personal counseling or care — it’s meant to reduce the organizational burden behind it.
Open questions and limits
Digitalization in violence protection isn’t a given win. Three points deserve particular attention:
- Data protection as a safety issue, not just a compliance one: for people affected by violence, a data breach can mean real danger, not just a fine.
- Digital violence is itself rising: according to the BKA’s national situation report, the number of people affected by digital violence in the context of partnership violence rose 10.9% in 2024, to 4,876 — a reminder that digital tools in violence protection need to be introduced carefully.
- The digital divide: not every person affected by violence, and not every smaller organization, has equal access to or trust in digital solutions.
What a responsible digital approach requires
These points lead to clear requirements: data minimization from the start, understandable and low-barrier usability for staff with varying levels of technical familiarity, and digital tools positioned as a complement — never a replacement — for personal counseling and public services like the national helpline, 116 016.
Conclusion
The federal ministry’s needs assessment provides, for the first time, a nationwide basis for this debate. For municipalities, that means: digitalization in violence protection is worthwhile, but only with a clear strategy and data-protection awareness built in from day one. Learn more about SafeNet’s approach under Features or Contact.
Sources: BMBFSFJ, Needs Assessment for the Prevention of Gender-Based and Domestic Violence, published 22 Jan 2026. BKA, National Situation Report on Domestic Violence 2024, published 21 Nov 2025.
