Germany plans to treat the use of date rape drugs like the use of weapons in prosecutions as part of measures to ensure justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“We classify date rape drugs, which are increasingly being used as a widespread tool in crimes. This creates the basis for a much stricter prosecution,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Friday. “We are committed to clear outcomes and consistent implementation. Women should feel safe and be able to move freely everywhere.”
Nearly 54,000 women and girls were victims of sexual crimes in Germany in 2024 – an increase of 2.1% from the previous year – of which around 36% were victims of rape and sexual assault.
Parliamentary debate on a bill to introduce a minimum prison sentence of five years for the use of date rape drugs in sexual assaults was postponed last month.
Police recorded nearly 266,000 domestic violence victims last year, an increase of 3.8% from the previous year. However, the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Munch, said there were a large number of cases that were not reported.
“We must work to ensure that more victims find the courage to report crimes to improve victim protection and support,” she said.
Although there is no uniform federal definition for femicide in Germany, approximately 1,200 women and girls were recorded as victims of murder or attempted murder in 2024, a slight year-on-year decrease.
The German government this week approved a draft law allowing the use of electronic ankle monitors to track perpetrators of domestic violence. Victims can also request a separate device to alert them when the perpetrator is nearby.
Dobrindt said the government has also secured funding for the national rollout of an app that allows domestic abuse victims to anonymously document incidents of abuse, which can later be used in court.