Based on our experience and the results of scientific research into women’s issues, the problems of the target group require a special methodology:
1. Protection and living space Our Frauenhaus offers an anonymous living space protected against further attacks and acts of violence. Protection and safety are indispensable prerequisites for those affected to process their experiences of violence and to regain control over their own lives. Whilst safeguarding privacy, we aim to promote the exchange of experience and mutual assistance among affected women and children.
2. Commitment We take women and children’s experiences of violence seriously and take a stand against violence, domination and intimidation. Through a basic attitude of critical solidarity, we support women and children in exercising their right to physical and mental integrity
3. Comprehensive approach Our work is based on the analysis of the societal discrimination of women and children, power in gender relations and gender-specific role behaviour. It therefore focuses on material, physical, mental and social stabilisation and thus on the well-being of every single woman and every single child.
4. Empowerment and resource orientation Our work continues to be oriented towards the individual strengths, resources and abilities of women and children. On this basis, personality is strengthened and supported in the sense of self-empowerment, and opportunities for action are extended.
5. Relationship orientation Women affected by violence are often socially isolated and, due to their experiences, have lost confidence in the sustainability of relationships. The relationships between employees and residents and their children as well as between the residents and their children enable new social contacts. This includes the opportunity to develop trusting relationships whilst safeguarding autonomy.
E-mail If someone who is threatening you has access to your e-mail account, they can read your incoming and outgoing e-mails. If you want your account to be secured against unauthorised access, use a password that is not easy to guess. Preferably a combination of letters and numbers.
If you receive e-mails from someone with threats or harassment, print them out so you have evidence in case of an emergency.
Cover your tracks in the Internet
History/cache Your Internet browser stores information, data and graphics from the websites you visited last. So that other people cannot track these, delete the data stored using your browser’s settings.
Internet Explorer Click on the menu “Options”. Click on “Delete browsing history”, select the files to be deleted (it’s best to mark them all) and then click on “Delete”.
Netscape Click on the menu “Edit”, select “Settings”, then “Navigator” and click on “Delete history”. Then select “Extended”, “Cache” and click on “Delete memory cache”.
Mozilla Firefox Click on the menu “Extras”, then on “Delete latest chronic”. Here you can select whether to delete “Today’s chronic”, the “Last hour(s)” or “Everything”. Then click on “Delete now”.
Despite these notes, it is possible that your tracks are not entirely erased. Many browser types have other ways to save and display the websites visited.
It is therefore safest to access Internet information in a public place (e.g. Internet café, at your workplace, or at a person you trust).
But there too, you should also delete the cache as described above.
The women’s shelter has five apartments on three floors:
Gleichstellungsstelle Essen und Essener Frauenbündnis (equality office Essen and Essen women’s alliance) www.frauenportal.essen.de
Internet portal for women provided by the Ministry for Generations, Family, Women and Integration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia www.frauennrw.de
Nationwide help telephone: 08000116016 Anonymous, free, accessible counselling around the clock for women affected by violence. Since 06.03.2013, the help telephone has offered counselling for women, relatives and supporters affected by violence. For women who speak little or no German, interpreters are available. Deaf women can contact the counsellors through a sign-language relay service or with the aid of written language interpreters. In addition to telephone counselling, online counselling is also available: www.hilfetelefon.de
Intimate partner violence has many faces:
Hitting, shoving, choking, threatening with a weapon
Wilful destruction of the home furnishings or personal belongings
Threatening, intimidating: “I’ll kill you if you leave me!” – “I’ll take the children away from you!”
Abuse, denigration, public humiliation or ridiculing
Constant calls, spying, stalking, harassment
Unfounded jealousy, being locked in at home, having contact to friends forbidden
Having money withheld, papers taken away, being controlled
Being forced into sexual acts
If things like this happen to you, you can get help.
The phone number 0201 66 8686 can be called day and night.
If you want to go to the women’s shelter, we’ll describe the way to a meeting point where we’ll pick you up.
The address of the women’s shelter is not public.
If we don’t have a place available at the moment, under this number you can get information about which women’s shelter in the area currently have places available.
The phone number 0201 66 8686 can be called day and night.
If you want to go to the women’s shelter, we’ll describe the way to a meeting point where we’ll pick you up.
The address of the women’s shelter is not public.
If we don’t have a place available at the moment, under this number you can get information about which women’s shelter in the area currently have places available.
You are welcome to make a donation or become a member of the aid association. On request, we are happy to send you a copy of the articles and a membership application (contact)
The Frauenhaus is financially supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Essen. This by no means covers the cost of our work. We therefore appreciate every donation. The aid association is non-profitmaking. Your donation is tax-deductible.
DONATIONS ACCOUNT
Förderverein Frauen helfen Frauen Essen e.V. Zweigertstr. 29, 45130 Essen
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG IBAN: DE59 3702 0500 0008 2819 00 BIC: BFSDE33XXX Stichwort: Frauenhaus Essen
