Digital violence affects both young and older people—and is particularly common among women and girls. Digital media are increasingly being misused for harassment, threats, and control, including in current or former relationships.
Under the title “Controlled Online, Threatened Digitally—When Violence Goes Online,” the Equal Opportunity Officer for the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer invites the public to an informational event at the Kevelaer Concert and Theater Hall on Thursday, November 26, 2026. The event begins at 6:00 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Presentations by Stefan Hellwig of the Kleve District Police Department and attorney and mediator Judith Bernhard-Heenen will cover topics such as data misuse, cyberstalking, identity theft, artificial intelligence, and the legal situation in Germany. The program will be complemented by performances by students from secondary schools in Kevelaer, as well as information booths run by counseling centers and institutions, whose representatives will also be available for discussions. Corinna Ortmann will serve as the moderator.
The event is being organized by the Equal Opportunity Officer in collaboration with the Social Service of Catholic Women e.V. and specialists from the district police department. “Digital violence is a growing social challenge that affects us all and also presents new challenges for the support system. We need to talk about this,” emphasizes Christiane Peulen, Equal Opportunity Officer for the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer. Verena Pichmann and Nicole Zigan from the Social Service of Catholic Women, Inc. also see the event as an important platform for raising awareness of the issue. “With a mix of information, discussion, and an impressive supporting program, we hope to reach many interested people,” explain the co-organizers.
The event is being held in cooperation with the Roundtables for a Violence-Free Home in the Kleve district, Kevelaer Marketing, and other partners. It is part of the statewide Action Week Against Violence Against Women and is funded by the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees, and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Admission is free. Please register in advance at: https://beteiligung.nrw.de/k/1029920
Additional information about the program and the participating organizations is also available there. Anyone interested is invited to attend; due to the nature of the content, participation is recommended for those ages 14 and older.