The event is being organised by the Equal Opportunities Officer at the Hochschule Niederrhein, in cooperation with the Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Mönchengladbach and the Crime Prevention and Victim Support Unit of the Mönchengladbach Police.
Kathi Heffe from the charity HateAid, an expert on digital violence, will provide an insight into current developments and the work involved in counselling those affected, as well as offering information on strategies for action. The focus is on the challenge of raising awareness of gender-based digital violence in its many forms as a real and serious form of violence, and of clearly identifying it as such. The spectrum ranges from supposedly ‘everyday’ incidents to new threats such as AI-generated, often pornographic, deepfakes. A session with a practical orientation will demonstrate how to gather digital evidence in the form of legally admissible screenshots. In addition, specific strategies for action will be presented, taking into account preventive, emotional and legal dimensions.
Sabine Pesch from the Mönchengladbach Police will provide information during the event on the role and options available within the police’s victim protection services. This includes providing targeted information on the course of the criminal investigation, on relevant victims’ rights at the various stages of the proceedings, on possible compensation for victims, and on referral to support organisations and trauma clinics.
Melanie Boscheinen, also from the Mönchengladbach Police, will outline the range of prevention work on offer.
Afterwards, the officers will be happy to answer any questions about police work, the course of proceedings or the process of filing a report.
HateAid is a non-profit organisation (gGmbH) that raises awareness of digital violence and develops solutions for an online environment in which freedom of expression is safeguarded and participation is enabled. Victims of digital violence receive individual counselling and legal support from HateAid.
The police’s victim support service is part of the Criminal Investigation Department and is aimed at victims of crime. Victims are not only informed about their rights and the support available to them, but are also, where necessary, accompanied through the proceedings right up to the court hearing in order to minimise the consequences of the offence.
Before and after the event, short films will be shown which were produced by students at the HSNR on the topic of sexualised violence as part of a seminar.
The hybrid format allows for both in-person attendance and digital participation via Zoom. The event is free of charge for all participants.
When: 25 November, 5–7 pm, doors open at 4.30 pm
Venue: Hochschule Niederrhein, main auditorium V2 (wheelchair access available)
Webschulstraße 41–43, 41065 Mönchengladbach
