8 December 2025

Worldwide, a woman is murdered every ten minutes because she is a woman - and in Germany, too, such a femicide takes place almost every day (according to the Federal Criminal Police Office, 360 completed homicides of women and girls in 2023). 63 per cent of all politically active women experience digital violence. 90 per cent of young women feel strong to extreme fear when they meet unknown men at night.

With these worrying figures, Vice President Prof Cordula Borbe greeted the audience who had come to Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences on the International Day to End Violence against Women for the opening of an exhibition against violence and sexism and a film presentation about the Weinstein scandal and the emergence of the me-too movement.

Prof. Viola Sporleder-Geb, who organised the event, pointed out specific assistance in emergency situations. This includes, above all, the so-called. „silent call for help“ (Raise your hand, palm facing outwards, spread your thumb, then fold your thumb into your palm and place all your other fingers over your thumb so that it is enclosed) and the free, nationwide help hotline „Violence against women“, which can be reached confidentially by dialling 116 016 is available around the clock (www.hilfetelefon.de).

Following the event, which was sponsored by the Thuringian Competence Network for Gender Equality, the guests enjoyed a lively exchange over a small snack, which was sponsored by the university's scientific association.

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences organised many other activities in support of the „Orange The World“ campaign launched by the United Nations 34 years ago, which aims to achieve a future without violence against women. Prof. Sabine Seibold-Freud, Equal Opportunities Officer at the university, thanked all those involved for the varied programme of these „Orange Days“, which included a play on assault and power imbalances, a workshop on sexism, a hands-on activity on the subject of „catcalling“ and a self-defence course. Since this year, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences has also joined the „Together against sexism“ alliance, which is also responsible for the exhibition against violence and sexism in the foyer of Building 19, which is open to the public until 8 December. This makes it clear that there is no place for violence and sexism at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences; everyone should be able to live freely - without violence and fear.