Queen Silvia of Sweden opens Childhood House
Queen Silvia of Sweden has opened the first Hessian Childhood House in Frankfurt. The 79-year-old monarch said on Wednesday at Frankfurt University Hospital that children affected by violence would receive multi-professional help and legal clarification at the facility. It is an approach "that listens to children as fully-fledged members of our society, takes them seriously and focuses on them and their needs".
The Childhood House in Frankfurt is the tenth facility of its kind in Germany. It is intended to be an inter-agency outpatient contact point for young victims or witnesses of sexualized or physical violence. Various disciplines such as the youth welfare office, judiciary, police, medicine and psychology work together there. The aim is to save children from having to be constantly re-examined and questioned by different institutions.
According to the information provided, it is the first Childhood House in Germany to be set up and financed by a state government. "Unfortunately, violence and abuse against children exist everywhere," explained Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU). "No one should close their eyes to this, no one should remain silent about it". The house sends a "clear signal against all forms of violence and abuse".
The institution is run by the World Childhood Foundation, which was founded by Queen Silvia around 25 years ago.
The World Childhood Foundation, led by Queen Silvia, aims to provide comprehensive support in the realm of social affairs, focusing on the health and well-being of children affected by violence. This approach aligns with the monarch's belief in treating children as integral members of society, deserving of respect and attention to their unique needs.
Moving forward, the collaboration between various disciplines within the Childhood House in Frankfurt, including the youth welfare office, judiciary, police, medicine, and psychology, will work to eradicate the need for children to endure repeated examinations and questioning by multiple institutions.
Source: www.dpa.com
