We operate independently of party politics and are pleased with the support and cooperation we receive from supporters of our work in the political sphere. We fundamentally reject cooperation with right-wing populist parties.
Here are some examples of our political work:
Expert debate on the regulation of chemicals for knockout drops
The Health Committee discussed the abuse of knockout drops in a public hearing on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 4.15 pm onwards. This was based on an application by the Union parties relating to the chemical gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) which can be used as knockout drops (20/8528). The committee met for about an hour in Room E.300 of the Paul-Löbe building.
THE NEED FOR BETTER PREVENTION
The Kein Opfer (KO) organisation welcomed the fact that politicians were questioning the legal access to the chemical GBL. However, the problem is much more complex because the collective term “knockout drops” covers as many as one hundred different substances, including various narcotics, psychotropic drugs and liquid nicotine from e-cigarettes. It would make sense for event organisers, bar owners and club operators to attend mandatory awareness courses, for information posters to be displayed as a statutory requirement and for all staff to be properly trained. The organisation warned against shifting responsibility for such attacks to the victims and for selling them useless “anti-spiking aids”. It added that perpetrator/victim blame reversal would lead to further traumatisation and that the bitter reality is that it is impossible to protect against knockout drops.
You can read our full statement here.
Expert discussion, digital | “No means no in practice” Evaluation of the sexual offences law reform of 2016
One in three women has been subjected to sexualised and/or domestic violence at least once in their lives. All too often, the perpetrators cannot be held to account.
Since the 2016 reform of the sexual offences law in Germany, there has been a significant increase of almost 50 percent in the number of investigations into crimes against sexual self-determination. By comparison, however, there has only been a marginal increase in conviction rates. Against this background, we want to evaluate the 2016 reform together with experts and consider whether there is a need for further changes in the laws governing sexual offences and in procedural law. We cordially invite you to this video conference event on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker MdB
Vorsitzende des Rechtsausschusses des Deutschen Bundestages
[Image rights: Michael Wittig/CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag]
Written enquiry relating to the Istanbul Convention
Some time ago for example, together with the team of Eva Lettenbauer, the regional chair of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN Bayern, we submitted a written enquiry to the Bavarian State Parliament regarding the implementation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Istanbul Convention:
ARTICLE 14 – EDUCATION
1 Parties shall take, where appropriate, the necessary steps to include teaching material on issues such as equality between women and men, non-stereotyped gender roles, mutual respect, non-violent conflict resolution in interpersonal relationships, gender-based violence against women and the right to personal integrity, adapted to the evolving capacity of learners, in formal curricula and at all levels of education.
2 Parties shall take the necessary steps to promote the principles referred to in paragraph 1 in informal educational facilities, as well as in sports, cultural and leisure facilities and the media.
ARTICLE 15 – TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS
1. Parties shall provide or strengthen appropriate training for the relevant professionals dealing with victims or perpetrators of all acts of violence covered by the scope of this Convention, on the prevention and detection of such violence, equality between women and men, the needs and rights of victims, as well as on how to prevent secondary victimisation.
2 Parties shall encourage that the training referred to in paragraph 1 includes training on coordinated multi-agency cooperation to allow for a comprehensive and appropriate handling of referrals in cases of violence covered by the scope of this Convention.
Written enquiry relating to knockout drops
In the summer of 2019, the team of Katha Schulze, the leader of the Green Party in the Bavarian State Parliament, submitted a written enquiry to the Bavarian State Parliament on the subject of knockout drops at the request of Nina Fuchs: