Annual reports usually contain a lot of figures. This is also the case at the Würzburg counseling center Wildwasser, an association against sexual violence against girls and women. But behind every number there is a story, a destiny, says managing director Antje Sinn when presenting the report for 2022.
Those affected often do not file a criminal complaint
The team has been working in the field of child protection and women’s counseling for over 30 years. The women are contact persons in cases of sexual abuse, psychological and physical violence or rape. The perpetrators usually come from the immediate social environment – as in the case of so-called domestic violence. This increased in 2022. And often those affected did not file a criminal complaint. If it comes to a criminal trial, they receive comprehensive psychosocial support.
The offer also includes a guided self-help group for women who have experienced sexual abuse in their childhood, preventive offers in kindergartens and schools and facilities for people with disabilities. This includes training and public relations. All in all, a lot of commitment for the team of full-time and voluntary employees. And the requests are increasing.
There were 621 initial inquiries last year – mostly from those affected. In 2021 there were 515. Other inquiries were made by social work professionals (kindergartens, schools, support or home facilities); however, they also came from the police and judiciary sectors. Wildwasser also recorded an increase in the number of consultations: from 430 in 2021 to 578 in 2022. The team held over 3,000 appointments in total.
Looking back, Managing Director Sinn and social worker Jona Sicheneder also refer to the two events in the Matthias-Ehrenfried-Haus in Würzburg, one specialist day each in 2021 and 2022. These training courses were made possible by funds from the federal innovation program “Together against violence against women”. Both met with great interest. The aim was to improve care for women and girls after severe and complex experiences of violence.
Barrier-free access to the Wildwasser advice center
In the 18 months of the funding period (April 2021 to December 2022), the white water team was able to expand its own range. According to Managing Director Sinn, 98 complex traumatized women contacted the association during this time. “That’s immense,” says Sinn, “precisely because therapy places are rare and it’s difficult to find others.” According to Jona Sichenender, the help network has been strengthened.
Additional funds came from the federal investment program “Together against violence against women”. With these funds, the low-barrier access to the advice center in Theresienstraße and a barrier-free toilet could be realized. According to the annual report, not only a low-threshold offer is important, but also the reduction of spatial inhibitions.
The association will continue to need funds or public subsidies in the future. They come from the city and district of Würzburg, from the Bavarian Ministry for Family Affairs, but also from the districts of Kitzingen, Main-Spessart and Main-Tauber. In addition, there were allocations by courts (fines), fees for further training – and also many small donations, “on which we continue to depend,” says Antje Sinn.
Further information, including the report on the project “Help for women with complex experiences of violence” 2021/2022, is available on the Internet: www.wildwasserwuerzburg.de
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