11.4.2025

ZDFheute, April 2, 2025 "Police dismantle huge pedophile network." This headline has more or less gone unnoticed in the current, overwhelming news landscape. It joins the ranks of reports on an age-old topic that has repeatedly manifested itself in new scandals for decades: pedophilia and its manifestation of violence and sexual abuse of children.

The sad reality

According to the Federal Government's crime statistics, approximately 50 children in Germany fall victim to sexual violence every day, and the number is rising. These figures only represent registered cases; the number of unreported cases is difficult to estimate. Each individual case is not only disgusting and repulsive, but also perfidious in multiple ways. In the majority of cases, the abuse takes place in the children's immediate social environment. Close relatives and caregivers exploit this proximity to ruthlessly indulge their desires. The child is always the weaker and most vulnerable party, and both the perpetrators' power and superiority as well as the emotional connection are abused. Often, only the victim and the perpetrator know about the incidents. The perpetrators regularly develop manipulative strategies to drive the children into hopeless situations and thus silence them. This silence is also often due to the victims' shame.

The psychological damage these victims suffer typically lasts a lifetime. Sometimes, as a result of the abuse, they develop behavioral abnormalities that are indicators of these incidents, but they often go unnoticed because such absurdities are not considered possible in the close environment.

Reporting on scandals that come to light generally focuses on the perpetrators. The victims are not widely recognized. This makes sense, as public exposure would cause additional harm to the victims, in addition to their personal experiences.

The Response

The topic and its impact, although often taboo, are neither unnoticed nor unanswered. Large non-profit organizations such as Weisser Ring e.V. offer assistance to victims of crime and violence in general, but also specifically to children affected by abuse, not only in Germany but in several European countries. This assistance takes the form of personal support, financial assistance, accompaniment to the police and courts, etc.

In addition to aftercare support, prevention is also an important area. Last weekend, the "Yes to No" prevention day took place in Bamberg, for the fourth time, initiated by the Bamberg public prosecutor's office. It's intended to teach children in a playful way how to set clear boundaries and say no when something isn't okay. It's intended to teach children that they are themselves, that their bodies belong to them and deserve protection. The children shall be given strategies and shown by example that everyone is allowed to set boundaries, even if they're still a child. And it should show them: You're not alone in this.

Das Programm umfasste u.a. ein Puppenspiel „Ja zum Nein“, einen Elternvortrag zum Thema „Warnzeichen erkennen und reagieren“, einen Song-Contest, ein Theaterstück zum Thema Demokratie, Partizipation und Menschenrechte und Aktionen und Infostände von Polizei, bayerischem Rotes Kreuz u.v.m.

The initiative was funded by donations from public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies. We have registered to be in next year.