Church - Protestants: Standards for dealing with sexual violence
There are now binding standards and criteria for dealing with sexualized violence in the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and in Diakonie institutions. A corresponding declaration was signed on Wednesday by the EKD, Diakonie Germany and the Independent Commissioner of the Federal Government for Child Sexual Abuse Issues (UBSKM), Kerstin Claus. According to the EKD and UBSKM, this declaration was largely drawn up by those affected.
"After the long phase of negotiations, it is now important that the regional churches and regional diaconal associations implement the "Joint Declaration" comprehensively and bindingly as quickly as possible and that there are no further delays," said Claus.
According to the EKD, nine "Independent Regional Review Commissions" will begin their work within the next few months on the basis of the declaration. Experts from academia, the judiciary and administration, those affected and representatives of the church and social welfare organizations will work together in these commissions.
In the past, there has been repeated criticism of the slow pace at which Protestants have come to terms with sexualized violence. Abuse commissioner Claus had also criticized, among other things, that there was no structure in the Protestant Church for recognition payments to those affected that was detached from the church.
Federal Commissioner for Dealing with Sexual Violence in the Church Context PM on the "Joint Declaration"
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- The Federal Government's Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues, Kerstin Claus, emphasized the need for swift and comprehensive implementation of the "Joint Declaration" by regional churches and social welfare organizations, such as Diaconia, in Hanover, Germany.
- The EKD and Diaconia Germany, alongside Kerstin Claus, signed a declaration on Wednesday, establishing binding standards for handling sexual violence within their institutions and the Protestant Church in Lower Saxony.
- The refurbishment of dealing with sexualized violence in the Protestant Church in Germany and Diakonia institutions will include the collaboration of experts from academia, the judiciary, administration, victims, church representatives, and social welfare organizations.
- Criticism has previously been directed at the Protestant Church for its slow progress in addressing sexualized violence, with Kerstin Claus also highlighting the absence of an independent structure for recognition payments to victims separated from the church.
- Germany's Federal Government and Diaconia Germany are taking decisive action to combat criminality within their institutions and establish a safe environment by implementing the new standards for handling sexualized violence, as agreed upon in the "Joint Declaration" with the EKD.
Source: www.stern.de
