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Victims with a limited knowledge of the German language

If you have experienced a crime, you will want to and have to talk with many persons in authorities, institutions and advice centres or with points of contact for medical treatment and other people about it.

Not everybody can speak, read and write the German language sufficiently. As a victim of a crime, you may ask if there are translating and interpreting services free of charge. This applies not only to foreign languages, but also to sign language.

If you have not only language problems but are also uncertain as to whether you can understand everything, you may seek advice in the offices of your municipality or obtain advice and support from the support facilities in your vicinity, which are described in the List of Support Facilities. Some support facilities also have personnel who can speak a foreign language in addition to the German language. You can ask for this.

Assistance for aggrieved persons who have been victims of violence (offers in foreign languages)

The nationwide telephone helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen und Mädchen“ (Violence against Women and Girls) provides advice per telephone, in the chat and per mail. Foreign language support is ensured for numerous languages. The website of the nationwide telephone helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen und Mädchen“ (Violence against Women and Girls) is available in the English, French, Spanish, Russian and Turkish languages.

As a victim of a crime of violence, you may also contact advice centres which act on behalf of the Federal State of Lower Saxony at a central level and provide foreign language offers:

  • SUANA is a counselling centre for female migrants affected by domestic violence. Women looking for help have the possibility to obtain comprehensive advice with a multilingual approach. The women’s specific cultural context will be considered carefully. Our consulting offers are addressed to female migrants and refugees (minimum age of 16 years), they are free of charge and will be handled confidentially.
    Counselling is possible in the following languages: German, Persian, Russian, Polish, English, French, Arabic, Kurdish, Vietnamese, Turkish
    Tel: 0511- 12 60 78 – 14 or 0511- 12 60 78 – 18
  • The Lower Saxony Hotline against Forced Marriage (Niedersächsisches Krisentelefon gegen Zwangsheirat)
    Girls and women who are threatened by forced marriages or live in such marriages in Lower Saxony can get information and advice on the hotline against forced marriages. Friends, teachers and employees of authorities or advisory centres can use this hotline as a contact point to get and exchange professional advice on questions and problems across the entire Federal State.
    You can make contact on your own initiative either by telephone or e-mail. The consultation will remain anonymous if you so wish.
    Languages: German and Turkish
    If required, also Persian, Arabic and Kirmanci (Kurdish)
    Telephone 0800 0667 888 (free of charge)
    Consultation times: Monday to Thursday 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., Friday 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
  • As male victim of a crime of violence, you may contact the Office for Men in Hannover (Männerbüro Hannover e.V.). The team has longtime experience in the field of work with victims and offenders and focuses on boys, male adolescents and men. It is nationally recognised as a specialist unit. For years, the staff has focused on male socialisation, gender-role specific behaviour as well as violence of and against men, boys and male adolescents. The Team of Männerbüro Hannover works on an interdisciplinary and intercultural basis.
    Languages: German, English, Spanish
    Tel.: +49 (0)511 - 123 589 0
    Telephone hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. as well as Monday: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
  • If you are a victim of human trafficking, you may contact the Office for coordination and consultation for female victims of human trafficking (Zentrale Koordinierungs- und Beratungsstelle für Opfer von Menschenhandel - KOBRA). This office provides advice and support to women who are victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Victims of human trafficking for the purpose of work exploitation are not included.
    Languages: German, Polish, Russian, Spanish, English, Bulgarian; additional languages will be provided by female interpreters.
    Telephone: ++49-(0)511 - 898288-02

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