Home » News » Corona pandemic makes work in the Bremen-Nord women’s refuge difficult – Die Norddeutsche: Latest news

Corona pandemic makes work in the Bremen-Nord women’s refuge difficult – Die Norddeutsche: Latest news

Susanne Eilers from the Bremen-Nord women’s shelter cannot say whether the corona pandemic is actually the reason why women’s shelters in Bremen are currently particularly busy. The reduced personal contact definitely complicates the work of the employees. (Peter Steffen / dpa)

The women’s shelters and counseling centers in Bremen are currently very busy. The eight available rooms in the women’s refuge in North Bremen are also fully occupied. According to a press release by the Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection since the corona pandemic, telephone consultations have been particularly popular. Senator for Women Claudia Bernhard (left): “Domestic violence against women is obviously increasing during the corona pandemic. In April 2020 we were able to provide 30 additional places in the women’s shelters in the city of Bremen. In March of this year we increased our stock again.

Susanne Eilers from the Bremen-Nord women’s shelter cannot say whether the pandemic is actually the cause of the Bremen women’s shelters being particularly busy at the moment. “We women have to keep rejecting them, and that was the case even before the pandemic. We do not ask women whether the problems have come because of the corona pandemic. To be honest, that is also unimportant. ”What is important is that help can be provided. And that doesn’t always work.

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Susanne Eilers, who looks after the women’s shelter in Bremen-Nord as a full-time employee together with a part-time colleague, honestly admits that both are busy looking after the women who are accommodated in eight rooms. No more space can be created in the house itself. “The Senate has offered us to rent another apartment or two. That is nice, but in reality it cannot be implemented like that. ”On the one hand, there is a lack of staff, employees who are available for women around the clock. In addition, such apartments would have to be nearby. “We actually had a look around in this regard, the apartments we would need are not nearby.”

In addition, a possible landlord must be given appropriate security with regard to long-term rental. “We can’t give that, we don’t know what’s in a year, or a few months, or after the pandemic,” explains Susanne Eilers. And as the third and most important argument: “Such apartments would only be a temporary solution anyway. Because we can offer our women protection in the women’s refuge. In apartments outside of the house, this would not work with the personnel key. So such an apartment would only be for a woman who is already stable and is looking for her own accommodation anyway, ”Eilers explains.

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In general, the women’s refuge has had enormous difficulties in finding affordable apartments for the women from the women’s refuge for more than a year. “Getting an apartment in Lüssum is usually not a problem. But our women don’t want to go there. And the preferred areas in Lesum or Vegesack, there is hardly anything to be done at the moment. ”According to the social worker, finding apartments for women in need had already become more difficult last year. Before that, a conversation with a housing company led to the goal relatively quickly. “But now the contact usually has to be sought by e-mail. These are hurdles that our women often cannot overcome, if only because of a lack of knowledge of German. ”Although the duo of the women’s shelter intervenes to help, the requested data and cover letters are also passed on via the women’s shelter’s computer. “But there is a hail of rejections, there is hardly any affordable living space,” says Eilers.

“We don’t put any pressure on our women. You don’t have to move out at a specific time, ”emphasizes Eilers. But that also means that the rooms are occupied for a long time. However, the house was already well occupied before Corona, the rooms were rarely vacant quickly, “and when there was, there was hardly any time to renovate because the next woman moved in two days later,” said Eilers.

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Increased telephone advice because personal contacts are not possible does not make the work of Susanne Eilers and her colleagues any easier: “Where language is a barrier, hands and feet helped us in face-to-face meetings before the pandemic, or a friend of those affected who came with us . Who wants to reveal their dire situation in front of strangers? Then, if there was an outbreak of tears, a hug also helped. It’s much more difficult now, and sobbing on the phone breaks my heart. “

Down to business

The Istanbul Convention

Senator for Women Claudia Bernhard (Linke) emphasizes that it is important to continue working on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention obliges the signatory member states to take aggressive action against all forms of violence. This includes all forms of violence against women and girls. The convention places a special focus on domestic violence. Bernhard: “Even if Bremen is already doing well in a national comparison with its protection and help system for women affected by violence, the women’s shelters are currently fully occupied. It is therefore important to continue to work intensively on the country action plan for the implementation of the ‘Istanbul Convention’ together with various bodies and experts. The Bremen Fund should also be used to position itself in the area of ​​protection against pandemics and to overcome bottlenecks in the help and support system. “

The Istanbul Convention came into force in Germany on February 1, 2018. On the night of March 20 this year, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention by decree. Bernhard: “The news that Turkey has left the Istanbul Convention is a worrying development in an international context. We have to support the women who now take to the streets there for their human right to nonviolence and criticize this step on the international stage. ”For November 2021, therefore, the Bremen action plan“ Implement the Istanbul Convention – Women and Children Against Violence is planned protect ”to a broad Bremen public.

Further information on the state action plan for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the state of Bremen can be found at www.bremen-sagt-nein.de.

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