New agreements bolster protection for those affected by enhancing tracking capabilities

In a significant move towards enhancing victim protection and promoting justice, the state of Baden-Württemberg has signed contracts with four University Hospitals - Freiburg, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, and Ulm - to fund the operation of violence ambulances and independent evidence collection.

The operation of these ambulances, which offer independent trace evidence, has been funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs since their inception. In 2024 alone, around one million euros were allocated for this purpose.

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kunz, Medical Director of the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Hospital Ulm, emphasizes the importance of easy access to professional consultation, care, and legally admissible documentation of injuries. He believes that this initiative will provide increased legal certainty for victims of violence.

The violence ambulances, located at these universities, offer a free, confidential, and legally admissible evidence collection service for victims of domestic violence, sexual assaults, or other crimes. Prof. Dr. Annette Thierauf-Emberger and Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schmidt, from the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Hospital Freiburg, welcome the contract signing, stating that it supports victims of sexualized violence and physical abuse in making a self-determined decision for or against legal action.

The contracts signed strengthen the offer of independent trace evidence in Baden-Württemberg and reinforce victim protection. The offer is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, origin, or financial situation.

For insured persons, the respective health insurance company covers the costs of trace evidence. The fear that the crime cannot be proven often leads victims not to report it. With the legally sound, anonymous, and free trace evidence, they gain the security of knowing that they can report the crime at any time and that the evidence is not irretrievably lost.

Minister Lucha, who has signed these contracts, states that these initiatives are crucial in ensuring that victims of violence have the support they need to seek justice. The first contract was signed with the University Hospital Heidelberg in 2023, and the contracts with the University Hospitals in Freiburg and Ulm have followed suit.

The details of the claim and confidential billing are regulated by contracts between the country, the health insurers, and the respective institutes of legal medicine. People who have suffered injuries as a result of violent events, accidents, or where the securing of traces could contribute to clarification, can be examined.

The court-admissible securing of evidence enables the conviction of perpetrators at a later date. An early examination should be carried out in particular in cases of domestic violence, strangulation, suspected child abuse, sexual assault, violence against the elderly, or other violent attacks such as brawls or attacks with dangerous objects.

Johannes Bauernfeind, CEO of AOK Baden-Württemberg, states that violence clinics offer victims a safe space to seek help and justice. He emphasizes that the clinics are designed to provide a confidential and legally sound environment for victims to secure evidence without immediately filing a criminal complaint.

Contact information for the Violence Clinics in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, and Ulm is provided below.

Freiburg University Hospital: Website: www.uniklinik-freiburg.de Contact: [0761 54-0]

Heidelberg University Hospital: Website: www.uni-heidelberg.de Contact: [06221 56-0]

Stuttgart University Hospital: Website: www.klinikum-stuttgart.de Contact: [0711 54-0]

Ulm University Hospital: Website: www.uniklinik-ulm.de Contact: [0731 50-0]

These initiatives are a significant step towards ensuring that victims of violence have the support they need to seek justice and reclaim their lives.

New agreements bolster protection for those affected by enhancing tracking capabilities