Jennifer Weist speaks out about violence in relationships and gives voice to those affected. How do you avoid toxic patterns? What can Germany learn from Spain in terms of protection against violence?
11/19/2025 | 43:30 min
Spain is a pioneer in the fight against gender-based violence. Awakened by the brutal murder of Ana Orantes, Spain took many measures years ago.
Brutal murder after appearing on television
For 40 minutes on Andalusian afternoon television in 1997, Ana Orantes recounted four decades of an abusive marriage. Beaten, exiled from his family, humiliated – he was worthless. Her husband repeatedly promised not to commit violence against her again.
I believed it because I had nowhere else to go, no one. I had to endure it, blow after blow.
Ana Orantes, 1997 on local television
But he repeatedly hit her and also touched her ten-year-old daughter. Orantes reported her husband several times and asked for help.
Derya was one of 113 women who were killed by their partners or ex-partners in 2021. Her son also died because his biological father saw both of them as disturbing factors. A femicide.
November 5, 2025 | 19:13 min
When her divorce was granted in 1981, she also took the same route – but her husband persuaded the judge to reject her divorce request. Fifteen years later, her application was accepted, but the divorce judge decided that she would have to share the house with her husband.
A year later, Ana Orantes spoke out about violence on television. The host encouraged him and talked about his newfound freedom. 13 days later, Orantes died. Tied to a chair, doused in petrol and set on fire – by her ex-husband.
Social scientist Julia Habermann says that women are often killed in connection with separation. To address this, more robust consultancy services are also needed.
March 17, 2025 | 8:41 min
The Orantes case as a driver for comprehensive reform
Spanish Vice President Francisco Fernández-Cascos described the crime as “an isolated case committed by outsiders.” But the first reforms soon began. Because: The murder of Orantes, who was supposed to live in the same house with her ex-husband even after the divorce despite the violence, highlights the structural dimension of the problem.
Facts about the “cityscape” debate.
:When and where women are actually unsafe
Chancellor Merz polarized with his “city view” statement. It cannot be denied that women are more often victims of violence than men. However, many of the perpetrators were found in the immediate environment.
General Questions
In 2004, the Spanish Parliament passed a law on protection against gender-based violence without dissent. At first it was clear:
Gender-based violence is not a private matter. Rather, it is an expression of the most brutal inequality in our society.
Spanish law on protection against gender-based violence
The law contains a comprehensive catalogue: from educational measures to prevent gender-based violence to greater assistance for those affected and tougher penalties for perpetrators of violence.
In 1976, American sociologist Diana Russell used the term “femicide” to describe that women were often killed for different reasons than men. This term has become popular in Latin America, where it has been used since the 1990s and is now applied in some criminal laws.
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) used the term for the first time in its 2023 federal situation report on gender-specific crimes against women. He understands femicide as the killing of women, based on assumptions of gender inequality.
Due to a lack of data on the motivation of the crime, the BKA lists acts against women as femicide as follows: murder in connection with sexual offenses and other murders, manslaughter and bodily harm resulting in death. Exceptions include sexual offenses resulting in death and arson resulting in death.
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Specialty dishes in Spain
Spain also created a special justice department for cases of violence against women. Judges and prosecutors are specially trained on gender equality and discrimination. The idea behind this is to enable women to more easily open up to trained judicial staff.
In Germany, almost every day a woman dies due to violence perpetrated by her partner. A new study shows the extent and background of the murders of these women.
11/20/2025 | 1:40 min
The “VioGén” system performs risk analysis using an algorithm
To prevent further violence, the police have been using the “VioGén” system for almost 20 years. “VioGén” is an abbreviation for “violencia de género”, gender-based violence. The system records previous cases and calculates, based on various indicators, how big a person’s risk of being assaulted by their (ex) partner is.
The affected person, Noelia París, benefited from the Spanish system VioGén. Her abusive ex-husband now wears an ankle bracelet.
Source: ZDF
Questions asked include whether the potential perpetrator has previously committed violence or owned a weapon. Police officers operating the system can only increase the level of risk calculated by the algorithm, not lower it. A relief for those affected like Noelia París.
I never doubted whether I would be believed. It’s logical, I don’t need to invent anything.
Noelia París, survivor of gender-based violence
Depending on the risk assessment, there are different measures, for example no approach, no contact or electronic ankle bracelets. At the highest risk levels, women receive round-the-clock police protection.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig wants to provide better protection to victims of domestic violence. In the future, violent criminals should be required to wear electronic ankle bracelets.
11/19/2025 | 1:10 min
November 25, 2025 is International Orange Day – a day to draw attention to violence against women and take a stand against it. ZDF accompanies this day with various programs in November with the slogan “All eyes open! Together against violence against women”.
problem for society as a whole
Gender-based violence is a concern for everyone in Spanish society. If a woman is murdered, parliament holds a minute’s silence and the evening news reports.
In recent decades, the number of murders of women in Spain has almost halved. Thanks to various measures taken, the numbers have decreased sharply. There is a lot that Germany can learn.
- “Violence against women” helpline: 116 016, online advice via chat or email
- National search for women’s shelters
- Virtual AI Help Chat: AI chat that is available anonymously and securely 24/7 in many languages and helps find the appropriate support offer.
- Legal support: The Feminist Legal Clinic provides free legal advice for those affected by violence or discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, including under the Violence Protection Act. Advice is available nationwide online and in person in Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Tübingen and Göttingen. Further information can be obtained by email to Beratung@feministlawclinic.de.
- Further support: There are several points of contact throughout the country, for example for self-help groups or anonymous forensic investigations.
