Wegweiser Domestic violence · Protection & support Deutsch

📞 Advice and contact points

The helpline 116 016 is the central first contact – around the clock, free of charge, anonymous and multilingual. From there you are referred to the right local service.

Helpline Women's advice centre Intervention centre Weißer Ring Helpline for violence against men

In brief

The nationwide helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" (Violence against Women; 116 016) can be reached around the clock, free of charge, anonymously and in many languages – by phone and online via hilfetelefon.de. It advises directly and, if needed, refers you to a local women's advice centre or intervention centre, to a women's shelter or to specialist advice (e.g. for migrant women). For men there is the separately organised helpline "Gewalt an Männern" (Violence against Men; 0800 123 99 00) with limited opening hours. For general victim support regardless of gender, Weißer Ring e. V. also offers a nationwide victims' helpline (116 006).

Step by step

  1. Make first contactCall the helpline 116 016 or chat online via hilfetelefon.de – even just for information, with no obligation to take further steps.
  2. Find local adviceGet referred via the helpline or directly to a women's advice centre/intervention centre near you.
  3. Use specialised adviceIf needed, turn to specialised services, e.g. for migrant women, for LGBTIQ* people or for men.
  4. Clarify legal and financial questionsAdvice centres often also help with applications (Gewaltschutzgesetz, basic income support, SGB XIV) or refer you to specialised lawyers.

Deadlines

No statutory deadline
Advice can be used at any time and repeatedly.–
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" can be reached around the clock; the helpline "Gewalt an Männern", by contrast, only at limited times (Mon–Thu 8 am–8 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm) – outside these times, in acute danger use the emergency number 110.
  • Advice centres do not replace legal advice in an individual case, but often refer you free of charge or at low cost to specialised lawyers.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

The helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen"

It is operated by the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions (BAFzA). The service is free of charge, anonymous, barrier-free, multilingual, with the option of bringing in interpreters and sign language interpreting, and can be reached around the clock on 365 days a year – by phone, chat and e-mail.

Intervention centres

In many Länder, intervention centres for domestic violence work closely with the police: after a police call-out with a removal order they often proactively contact those affected, instead of waiting for them to get in touch on their own.

Other specialised services

For men: helpline "Gewalt an Männern" (0800 123 99 00, Mon–Thu 8 am–8 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm, also chat/e-mail via maennerhilfetelefon.de). For general victim support regardless of the type of offence: Weißer Ring e. V., nationwide victims' helpline 116 006. For migrant women: specialised advice centres, often with interpreting, which can be reached via the helpline or municipal equal opportunities offices.

Who is responsible
  • Helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" (BAFzA)
  • Local women's advice centres and intervention centres
  • Weißer Ring e. V.
Further reading
Forms of domestic violence and first orientationAcute danger: what to do nowPsychological support and trauma counselling

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Advice and contact points“?
The helpline 116 016 is the central first contact – around the clock, free of charge, anonymous and multilingual. From there you are referred to the right local service.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
No statutory deadline: Advice can be used at any time and repeatedly. (–)
What should I do first?
  • Make first contact: Call the helpline 116 016 or chat online via hilfetelefon.de – even just for information, with no obligation to take further steps.
  • Find local advice: Get referred via the helpline or directly to a women's advice centre/intervention centre near you.
  • Use specialised advice: If needed, turn to specialised services, e.g. for migrant women, for LGBTIQ* people or for men.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" can be reached around the clock; the helpline "Gewalt an Männern", by contrast, only at limited times (Mon–Thu 8 am–8 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm) – outside these times, in acute danger use the emergency number 110.
  • Advice centres do not replace legal advice in an individual case, but often refer you free of charge or at low cost to specialised lawyers.
Evidence
  • hilfetelefon.de / bafza.de
  • maennerhilfetelefon.de
  • weisser-ring.de
  • Frauenhauskoordinierung, topic portal on the support system (frauenhauskoordinierung.de)
As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.