To mark the International Day of Remembrance "No to violence against women" on 25 November, around 75 women came together for an intercultural women's breakfast in Rodgau town hall. The event was hosted by the Rodgau Equal Rights Office and the Rodgau CDU Women's Union. Clarissa Leopoldsberger and Anja Turk welcomed the participants on behalf of both organisations. First City Councillor Janika Martin was also among the guests. The organisers also welcomed Ariane Mantey-Strauss, Annegret Hoppe-Unruh and Jana Saß from Caritas Offenbach for the subsequent part of the programme. The day of remembrance was established by the United Nations in 1999 and commemorates the rights of women and girls worldwide. For decades, human rights organisations have been working to empower women - a commitment that is still urgently needed in many places. Women around the world are still fighting for rights that are taken for granted in Germany, such as education, the right to vote, legal capacity, inheritance rights and protection from discrimination. Violence against women is one of the most common human rights violations and is usually perpetrated by men who are close to the victims. Intimate partner violence is the most common form. The problem is also omnipresent in Germany. Although the Hesse State Criminal Police Office recorded slightly lower figures for 2024, it still registered 11,880 cases of domestic violence. Around 80 per cent of those affected are women. These figures make it clear that violence against women takes place in the centre of our society. It knows no boundaries of age, origin or social status, and it does not just begin with physical assault. Psychological violence, stalking and intimidation are also used to exert power and control. One thing became clear this morning: domestic violence affects everyone. Anyone who hears an argument in the neighbourhood or hears a call for help from a friend, colleague or acquaintance must not look away. Support, a sympathetic ear or, if in doubt, a call to the police can be crucial. Silence and indifference must not allow this form of violence to take root. After breakfast together, employees of the Caritas Association Offenbach presented their work and gave an insight into the Counselling Centre East on Puiseauxplatz. The Caritas association has been committed to social justice, cohesion and the empowerment of people in the region for many years. The advice centre not only offers professional advice, but also concrete support and guidance that opens up new perspectives and relieves people in difficult situations. Contact: Counselling Centre East, 06106 660090, info.bz-ost@cv-offenbach.de. www.caritas-offenbach.de. At the end of the event, it was pointed out that new hosts for the Intercultural Women's Breakfast are being sought for the coming year, and that other women's groups are also welcome to join the Rodgau Women's Network and are welcome to contact Sybille Stallmann-Beseler (s.beseler@gmx.de). The new year will also begin with a small New Year's reception and an exhibition in the women's meeting place in Gartenstraße, which is planned for the end of January / beginning of February. Further information will follow. The Equal Rights Office would also like to point out that "Hilde aus Bornheim" will be performing in the auditorium on 8 March for International Women's Day. Advance ticket sales have already begun at the town hall's citizen service centre. Contact and information via Clarissa Leopoldsberger, 06106 693 1451 or frauen@rodgau.de
