in Berlin and other States of Germany
MANEO records
violence directed against LGBTIQ+ people. This includes cases of physical violence, robbery and blackmail as well as sexual assaults, threats, insults, discrimination and bullying. Persons affected and witnesses can report incidents and observations by phone, email or
online, anonymously if preferred. Once a year we analyse all the incidents known to us. We anonymise all the information and summarise it in a report, which we then make public. The documentation serves to clarify the dimensions of violence against LGBTIQ+ people and contributes towards reducing the number of hidden cases. The findings are intended as a prompt for the adoption of specific measures to improve protection against violence and in the prevention of violence. With this in mind, we participate in numerous working groups and regularly share our findings in these groups.
This is how to contact us by phone and email:
Assault hotline/ Victim support: +49 (0)30 – 2163336
Email: report[@]maneo.de
Contact us to arrange a personal counselling interview.
We carry out a statistical analysis of all reports
MANEO records cases of violence against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, intersexual, transsexual and queer people, which may also have affected other people, in going out together to scene venues (e.g. clubs and events), or by showing solidarity e.g. displaying rainbow flags. Because our primary concern is acts committed with an anti-LGBTIQ+ motive, we do not automatically rule out incidents simply because the background is vague or unclear.
Once a year we aggregate all the indications and cases reported or known to us and analyse them on an anonymous basis. We publish the results in a report: the MANEO Report. It is accessible to everyone, here on our home page. Our documentation serves to clarify the dimensions of violence against LGBTIQ+ people and contributes towards reducing the number of hidden cases. The findings are intended as a prompt for the adoption of specific measures to improve protection against violence and in the prevention of violence. With this in mind, we participate in numerous working groups and regularly share our findings in these groups.
Hate violence is not always recognisable as such
Hate acts can affect LGBTIQ+ people, for example, at school, in the workplace, when doing sport and exercise, in leisure activities and on the street – and heterosexual people too, if perpetrators read them this way. Homophobic and transphobic insults can also come from LGBTIQ+ people themselves if, for example, they want to hide their own homosexuality and „prove“ themselves in their own peer group. The complexity of anti-LGBTIQ+ acts is illustrated by the fact that a hate motive can be associated with any criminal offence.
Individuals can be affected by hate crime, for example, as victims of theft, including theft perpetrated in connection with sex, robbery, blackmail, traps on a blind date, damage to property, knock-out drops, sexual assaults, exploitation, forced marriage, domestic violence, bullying, etc. If an insult is openly homophobic, the rejection and denigration of the person are evident. However, assaults can also occur in which an obvious denigration through spoken words is absent. As a result, the motive for the crime remains initially hidden. There are numerous reasons, however, to critically question the motive behind the crime. That is why we are calling for all incidents to be reported to us in which you were affected as a lesbian, gay man, bisexual, transsexual, intersexual or queer person. If you would like to report an incident which took place some time ago, you are welcome to do this too.
Our work sends out a signal.
We demonstrate through our work that we do not silently accept violence, discrimination and exclusion. Persons affected need our help and solidarity. Only if we talk about these acts, and incidents become known, is there a chance of overcoming violence. We want to prevent perpetrators from feeling encouraged and continuing in this way.
Information about the „We Offer Help“-Campaign
in the Rainbow Neigbourhood during ‚Easter Berlin‘
MANEO hosts regulary talks in the Rainbow Neigbourhood. Representatives from the restaurant and business community, event organizers, the police, the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district office, and
committed stakeholders such as the Nachtlichter (Night Lights), the Rainbow Neigbourhood Mayor, and the Team Rainbow Neigbourhood Info-Point are present. The goal is to improve cooperation between everyone and strengthen violence prevention work, especially around the special events that play an important role in the Rainbow Neigbourhood: ‚Easter Berlin,‘ the Lesbian and Gay City Festival, Berlin Pride, Folsom Europe, and Winter Days/Christmas Avenue.
At our last meeting in early April, many businesses in the Regenbogenkiez agreed that at least one employee would wear a neon green vest for the ‚Easter Berlin‘ event, signaling that they would proactively inform guests and tourists in their store about violence prevention measures, including contacting the police and reporting via the online police station: https://www.internetwache-polizei-berlin.de , as well as emergency, crisis, and support services such as the MANEO Victim Support Service (Emergancy numbers). They will also inform guests about risks, such as keeping wallets and cell phones safe.
Posters featuring the image will be displayed in the Regenbogenkiez over Easter, providing information about the campaign.