Financial Support for Sexual Misconduct: Call for Cessation and Closure / Victim Advocacy Groups Vocalize Strong Disapproval
The Fund for Sexual Abuse (FSM), a crucial part of Germany's Supplementary Support System (EHS), has been under scrutiny recently due to the sudden announcement that incoming initial applications will no longer be considered from March 19, 2025, owing to insufficient funds in the federal budget.
The FSM, an aid organization for victims of crime, was founded in 1976 and is Germany's largest such organization. It offers support to those affected by abuse, particularly when necessary services are not covered by health and nursing care insurance or social compensation rights.
The White Ring, which runs the FSM, relies solely on membership fees, donations, bequests, court-imposed fines, and public prosecutor fines, without any public funding. The organization boasts a network of around 3,000 volunteer, professionally trained victim helpers at over 400 local offices, the victim hotline, and online counseling.
Five prominent victim support organizations, including the WEISSEN RING, the German Society for Prevention and Intervention in Child Abuse, and the Federal Association of Women's Counseling Centers and Women's Emergency Numbers, have criticized this retroactive halt of applications. In a press release in March, they called for the permanent continuation and structural securing of the fund.
Bianca Biwer, Federal Managing Director of the WEISSEN RING, described the halt as "shameful" and a "heavy blow" to victims who often suffer from the consequences of abuse for decades. She further stated that the most vulnerable and severely affected are being cut back on, retroactively, which she described as "cynical."
The organizations sent a letter to the coalition committee last Friday, demanding that support be maintained and necessary funds be provided in the federal budget. They emphasized that these low-threshold supports are indispensable components of the support system for victims of sexual violence.
Despite the coalition agreement assuring the continuation of the FSM, the current status and future plans for FSM funding in Germany, particularly regarding continuation and budgeting demands by victim support organizations, remain unclear. The organizations have called for a timely perspective and the specification of the future design of the supplementary support system from the federal government.
[1] It is important to note that the FSM is also involved in voluntary self-regulation for online and mobile media, working in partnership with eco within the German Safer Internet Centre to combat illegal internet content, including issues related to child sexual exploitation. However, this does not directly address the funding, continuation plans, or victim support demands discussed in this article.
In conclusion, while the FSM continues its vital work in supporting victims of sexual abuse, the future of its funding and the demands of victim support organizations for its continuation and structural securing remain uncertain. Further clarification and action from the federal government are needed to address these concerns and ensure the continued support for those affected by sexual abuse in Germany.
- The future of the Fund for Sexual Abuse (FSM), a critical component of Germany's Supplementary Support System (EHS), hinges on clear funding policies and budgeting as advocated by victim support organizations.
- The cessation of initial applications from March 19, 2025, due to insufficient funds in the federal budget, has sparked a call for permanent continuation and structural securing of the FSM, particularly from organizations like the WEISSEN RING, the German Society for Prevention and Intervention in Child Abuse, and the Federal Association of Women's Counseling Centers and Women's Emergency Numbers.
- Focusing on both mental-health and sexual-health issues, the FSM offers support to victims of abuse, bridging the gap where necessary services are not provided by traditional health and wellness insurance or social compensation rights.
- Advocacy for FSM's funding and continuation extends beyond sexual-health matters, with policy-and-legislation and general-news outlets expressing concern about the impact of the funding shortage on the overall health-and-wellness and women's-health sectors, as well as the larger politics surrounding budget allocations.
