Legal and state aid
Legal and state aid
Victims of right-wing violence have a variety of options when it comes to obtaining legal and/or financial support. Below you will find contact points and details with brief information about what kind of help you can get there. The recognised victim advice centres will also be happy to advise and accompany you to these further offerings free of charge and on a confidential basis.
Some victim advice centres also have their own hardship fund. For more information about these offers, it is best to contact an advice centre near you. Contact details for the victim advice centres can be found here.
State financial aid / Nationwide
In 2001, the German Parliament set up a fund from which “hardship benefits for victims of extremist attacks and terrorist crimes” would be paid out. The fund is managed by the Federal Office of Justice. In order to receive benefits from the fund, a formal application must be made using the application form provided. For further information, please contact an advice centre or the Federal Office of Justice.
Bundesamt für Justiz (Federal Office of Justice)
Referat III 2 – Opferentschädigung
53094 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 99 410-5288
E-mail opferhilfe@bfj.bund.de
Website www.bundesjustizamt.de
Here you will find a data sheet on hardship provision in German, English, French, Turkish, Arabic, Farsi and Somali.
Legal assistance / Nationwide
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) has been in force in Germany since 2006. This prohibits discrimination based on ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. This gives those affected the opportunity to successfully defend themselves against discrimination in court. The Büro zur Umsetzung von Gleichbehandlung e.V. (Office for the Implementation of Equal Treatment) offers legal assistance to affected persons who wish to defend themselves against discrimination in court.
Büro zur Umsetzung von Gleichbehandlung e.V. (BUG)
Greifswalder Str. 4
Haus für Demokratie und Menschenrechte
10405 Berlin
Tel.: 030 - 688 366 18
E-mail info@bug-ev.org
Website www.bug-ev.org
The “Stiftung contra Rechtsextremismus” (“Foundation against right-wing extremism”) of the German Lawyers' Association (DAV) assumes the costs for legal advice and representation of victims of right-wing violence. The prerequisite for support by the DAV is that the person concerned is facing economic need. In particular, this is intended to make it possible to represent victims against perpetrators in court.
DAV Stiftung contra Rechtsextremismus und Gewalt
c/o Deutscher Anwaltverein (DAV)
Littenstraße 11
10179 Berlin
Tel..: 030 – 72 61 52 –0
E-mail dav@anwaltverein.de
Website www.anwaltverein.de/de/stiftung-contra-rechtsextremismus
HateAid supports victims of hate on the Internet by providing personal advice and legal assistance. In appropriate cases, a lawyer will be appointed through the Legal Aid system and whether such a case exists will first be examined by HateAid. The service is free of charge and open to all affected by violence and hate online.
HateAid gGmbH
c/o Stiftung Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte
Greifswalder Straße 4
10405 Berlin
Phone: +04065917720
Email kontakt@hateaid.org
Website www.hateaid.org
The WEISSE RING awards assistance cheques to victims of violence for an initial consultation with a lawyer of their choice. Consultations take place daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the freephone number 116 006. The association is also represented nationwide and has around 420 branch offices.
WEISSER RING e.V.
Bundesgeschäftsstelle
Weberstraße 16
55130 Mainz
Tel..: 06131 – 83 03-0
E-mail info@weisser-ring.de
Website www.weisser-ring.de