Kinderschutzbund: More concepts for protection against abuse
In the view of the Thuringia Child Protection Association, many areas of child and youth work still lack effective concepts for protection against abuse. There are often no protection concepts, especially in voluntary work, said Managing Director Carsten Nöthling to the German Press Agency ahead of World Children's Rights Day on November 20. "These are areas where people with paedophile tendencies are looking for access. That's where we need to look." Even if such a concept is perhaps not mandatory, he would like to see "the pedagogical insight that we need protection concepts".
In the core area of child and youth welfare, in residential groups, daycare centers or schools, protection concepts are mandatory, he continued. In some cases, however, they are not implemented or filled with life. "Children need complaints systems that work. But that needs to be practised."
Now a high level of awareness
Nöthling went on to say that, in general, child protection has now been developed quite well. The fact that significantly more cases of child endangerment have recently been reported in Thuringia, for example, is also due to the fact that there is now a high level of awareness among the population. New political framework conditions have also been created. "Employees are being asked to deal with suspected cases very differently than before."
In 2022, the State Statistical Office recorded 667 cases of child endangerment, 17% more than in the previous year.
Facilitating political participation
Thuringia has also come a long way in terms of children's participation rights, said Nöthling. "This is also due to the fact that there is a political commitment to this in Thuringia." For example, local authorities have a mandate to involve children and young people in plans for district development or new roads. "But this also needs to be practiced - we're not there yet."
He called for more bridges between the administration, which is perceived as dry, and youth welfare. In Erfurt, for example, two people at the city youth association are responsible for working with young people on political decisions. "That would be a role model."
In some social affairs, particularly in voluntary organizations, there's a lack of effective protection concepts against child abuse, as pointed out by Carsten Nöthling. Despite not being mandatory, he advocates for the use of protection concepts to safeguard children, as these areas can attract individuals with paedophile tendencies.
In light of the increased awareness and political framework, there have been more reported cases of child endangerment in Thuringia. However, Nöthling emphasizes the importance of implementing and activating the existing protection concepts, especially in the essential areas of child welfare.
Source: www.dpa.com
