Photo: DPAA investigation by news service Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) carried out in Berlin’s refugee camps has found that women in the camps face "grossly inadequate protection from sexual and gender-based violence." IRIN described how one counselling group, Lara, provided support for 190 women between October and December 2016, and two thirds of them had suffered sexual violence. Another Berlin group to end violence against women, BIG, is reported to only have one social worker who last year in November and December spoke to 84 women who had suffered domestic or sexual violence in the shelters. “After countless conversations with shelter managers, I can assure you that there is no unusual occurrence [of sexualized violence] reported from emergency or community shelters,” said Sascha Langenbach, LAF’s spokesman. According to the same organizations, there is a need for women-only shelters that is not being met by the state.

Source: The Local May 11, 2017 15:00 UTC