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German justice reforms to treat use of date rape drugs as weapons
The Guardian
|November 22, 2025
Germany plans to treat the use of so-called date rape drugs like the use of a weapon in prosecutions as part of measures to ensure justice for survivors of sexual assault.
“We classify date rape drugs, which are increasingly used as a widespread tool in crimes, as weapons. This creates the basis for significantly stricter prosecutions,” Alexander Dobrindt, the interior minister, said yesterday.
“We are committed to clear consequences and consistent enforcement. Women should feel safe and be able to move freely everywhere.”
Nearly 54,000 women and girls were the victims of sexual offences in Germany in 2024 - an increase of 2.1% on the previous year - of which nearly 36% were victims of rape and sexual assault.
This story is from the November 22, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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