Wichtiger Hinweis
Dark field study confirms the need for protection against violence
Stand: 23.02.2026
In November 2025, the city council defined "protection against violence" as a priority in the first equality action plan. The current dark field study "LeSuBiA" confirms the urgency: a large proportion of domestic violence remains unreported, and women*, young people and queer people are particularly affected.
When signing the European Charter for Equality in November 2025, the City Council of Erlangen defined the topic of "Protection against violence" as a focus of the first equality action plan. The dark field study "Life Situation, Safety and Stress in Everyday Life (LeSuBiA)" has now been presented by the Federal Ministry for Women's Affairs, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office. For the first time, the study provides reliable data on the actual incidence of violence in Germany, far beyond the cases known to the police. The results confirm the importance of the chosen focus in the action plan.
The study shows that a large proportion of domestic and gender-specific violence remains in the dark: Reporting rates are below ten percent for most forms of violence, and even below five percent for violence in (ex-)partnerships. Women*, who experience violence more frequently and more intensively than men, as well as young people, people with a migration background and members of the LGBTIQA+* community are particularly affected. The study makes it clear that violence is not a marginal phenomenon, but affects millions of people. Violence often takes place in the closest social environment and various forms of disadvantage increase the potential to become a victim of violence.
In addition, the new Violence Assistance Act came into force in February 2025, which for the first time gives victims a nationwide legal right to free protection and counseling services, regardless of whether criminal charges have been filed. The federal states are obliged to provide needs-based support services nationwide from January 2027. It remains to be seen how this will actually be implemented and what the effects will be.
Erlangen already has a well-established network of advice centers and support services. The findings from the dark field study and the legal requirements of the Violence Assistance Act now form an important basis for optimizing existing structures in a targeted manner, shedding further light on dark fields and providing even better protection for those affected.
The focus on protection against violence in the first Gender Equality Action Plan is therefore a consistent response to the pressing challenges of the present, with the aim of offering more protection and support for those affected in the long term and preventing violence in the long term.
Further information:
Results of the LeSuBiA dark field study