Arbeit mit Männern und Jungen als Opfer von häuslicher Gewalt im deutschsprachigen Raum

<< Background >>Male victims of domestic violence remain a highly taboo subject in German-speaking countries. Men and boys are disadvantaged in the violence protection system: several countries lack specialized services or shelters. There was a need to raise awareness of support systems for male victims and to identify existing structures. The project responded to the need for professionals to exchange information across regions, learn from each other, and pool proven approaches. An analysis of the current situation was intended to map the legal framework, support services, and social perception, thereby contributing to the further development of support systems in the respective countries.At the same time, the project took up European developments (e.g., the Istanbul Convention and the Council of Europe's guidelines) that encourage member states to provide support structures for male victims as well.In addition, gender equality-oriented, pro-feminist And pro-democratic approaches to protecting men from violence should be strengthened and professionals in this challenging field should be networked. This should counteract the appropriation of the issue by anti-feminist and anti-democratic groups.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to provide an overview of existing support systems for male victims of domestic violence in the participating countries. It also sought to collect examples of good practice and highlight current challenges in professional practice. The exchange was intended to enable professionals to learn from each other and discover effective approaches to reaching and supporting affected boys and men.Another goal was to professionalize gender equality-oriented experts. Through exchange and joint reflection, counseling skills were to be strengthened and the role of professionals as advocates for male victims consolidated. The project also aimed to strengthen pro-feminist positions in order to promote a clear distinction from anti-feminist movements. Networking and establishing lasting cooperation in the spirit of international knowledge transfer were central to the project. Making male victims of violence visible was intended to sensitize experts and decision-makers and emphasize the need for pro-feminist support services in order to contribute to the long-term promotion of equality and protection against violence.<< Implementation >>The first expert exchange (Activity 1) took place from March 19-21, 2024, in Liechtenstein under the title “Reaching boys and men affected by violence.” 20 experts (five countries, 12 institutions) exchanged views on legal frameworks, access routes, and the attitude of gender-equality-oriented protection against male violence in contrast to anti-feminist movements. The exchange included getting to know the Liechtenstein Association for Men's Issues and their Family and Fathers' House, as well as a reception with the Minister of Social Affairs. The second expert exchange (Activity 2) took place from March 24-27, 2025, in Luxembourg under the title “Supporting boys and men affected by violence.” 27 experts (from five countries and 15 organizations) discussed counseling approaches, dealing with images of masculinity, and current developments. The work of infoMann and Pappenhaus was presented, supplemented by a reception with ministerial participation.Activity 3 comprised project management and documentation. This included the technical infrastructure, digital documentation of the exchanges on Padlet, and an accessible, multilingual brochure with an overview of the countries and profiles of the participating organizations.<< Results >>Specific outputs were:• Digital documentation of both expert exchanges in LI and LU (presentations, photo reports, discussion results) via Padlet• 17 profiles of the participating institutions/ projects based on specified categories (e.g., access routes, attitudes, cooperation)• A barrier-free, multilingual brochure with an overview of support systems for male victims of domestic violence in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, as well as selected practical examples.Further results were:• exchange of good practice and knowledge transfer between countries with and without existing protection services.• professionalization of specialists and their organizations (e.g., accessibility, counseling, advocacy).• long-term provision of results.• Increased sensitivity to gender-based violence protection and the distinction from anti-feminist movements.• Networking and establishing lasting cooperation (work on a follow-up project).• Strengthening gender equality-oriented actors (increasing the effectiveness of action).• Improving the quality of protection against male violence in German-speaking countries. • Selective visibility of the topic in professional circles, (social) media, radio, and politics.