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Victim representative Daniela Birkenfeld: Help after a shooting in Berlin!
Daniela Birkenfeld, Hessian victims' representative, supports those affected after acts of violence and terrorist attacks in Hesse.
Victim representative Daniela Birkenfeld: Help after a shooting in Berlin!
The Hessian victim representative Prof. Dr. Daniela Birkenfeld took immediate action after a tragic shooting spree in Berlin on June 8, 2022, in which a teacher from Bad Arolsen was killed and 32 other people were injured. The news reached Birkenfeld during a celebration in Austria, and without hesitation she returned to Hesse to help the victims and their families. She quickly organized a meeting with around 30 experts from aid organizations, authorities and schools in Bad Arolsen to coordinate support for the traumatized students. Their commitment is reflected in their goal of not leaving these victims alone and of giving them a voice.
Coordination of offers of help
As an independent representative for victims of terrorist attacks and serious acts of violence, Birkenfeld is not only available to support those affected in crisis situations, but also to provide long-term aftercare. After the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau and the shooting spree in Volkmarsen in 2020, it was their job to systematically help the bereaved and injured through the aid system. In this role, she is closely networked with various agencies that offer professional and voluntary support.
The Hessian Victims Commissioner always adheres to one central principle: “We never say that we are not responsible.” In their view, it is crucial to avoid any further harm to those affected who have already been traumatized. Her office aims to help victims take their life situation into their own hands and not leave them alone in the long-term crisis. “We are there – if necessary, for a lifetime,” she emphasizes, thereby respecting the needs of the victims in a sensitive environment.
More about the tasks and role of Prof. Dr. Daniela Birkenfeld as a victim representative in Hesse can be found on the website Hessian Ministry of Justice. Further information about her personal commitment and the coordination of relief efforts can be found in an article by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.