The project “Access to the Right to Protection Against Violence” investigates on an empirical basis to what extent victims of intimate partner violence, coercion or stalking can actually make use of the measures laid down for their protection in the Civil Law Protection Against Violence Act and what barriers they experience in doing so. In addition to social, financial and institutional barriers to access to justice in general, additional complex hurdles become apparent in the context of protection against violence, which result from dependencies in violent relationships, a lack of awareness in authorities and established family court procedures, among other things. 

The research questions the effectiveness of the violence protection law with regard to its aim of effectively protecting people from intimate partner and gender-based violence, taking into account social inequality dimensions and the complex life situation of those affected by violence. To answer these questions, we use a variety of data collection and analysis methods, ranging from court file analysis and statistical evaluations of case data to qualitative interviews with affected individuals and relevant professional groups.

Paula Edling is co-head of the project and is writing her doctoral thesis on this topic. In collaboration with the CMS Foundation, concrete recommendations for action to improve the situation of people affected by violence are also being developed as part of a policy paper.