Children's wellbeing is everyone's concern: steps against sexual abuse and exploitation
In the heart of Germany, the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V., a charity of the Protestant Johanniter Order, plays a significant role as one of the country's largest aid organizations. With over 29,000 employees, 46,000 volunteers, and more than 1.2 million supporters, the Johanniter in Bavaria stands out for its dedication to children's rights and child protection, particularly against sexualized violence.
The Johanniter-Kinderhaus, a cornerstone of their efforts, supports children's developmental years with commitment and educational diversity. This includes safeguarding children against various risks, including sexualized violence.
While specific details about a specialized child protection or sexual violence prevention program by the Johanniter in Bavaria may not be explicitly detailed, some key elements can be inferred. For instance, the Johanniter-Kinderhaus has been working with children since 2013, creating safe environments and promoting awareness to prevent abuse or neglect.
The Johanniter's broader role in safety and crisis intervention is evident in their involvement in first aid and emergency support at large events, such as the Adele concerts in Munich. This operational experience may extend to preventive care and education on child safety.
Moreover, representatives of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe have participated in educational events as part of diversity initiatives at the Technical University of Munich, possibly including awareness on protection and support for vulnerable groups, including children.
Prevention and enlightenment strategies against sexual violence and child abuse typically involve training staff and volunteers to recognize signs of abuse, educating children and parents about boundaries and safe behavior, creating clear reporting and response protocols to suspected abuse, promoting open communication, and resilience-building among children.
The Johanniter staff is extensively trained to recognize cases of sexualized violence early on. They emphasize the importance of believing children and providing them with help early on, as studies show that children can process their experiences better under such circumstances.
The Johanniter is active in various sectors, including Johanniter Youth, children's facilities, and school nursing service in Bavaria. They provide social services for children and youth, including nearly 490 daycare centers. Each children's facility develops its own protection concept, with concrete measures recorded to protect children from dangers, including barriers and privacy walls to prevent access by external persons.
Child protection concerns everyone, according to Stefanie Schmidt, head of the department at the Johanniter. Enlightenment and clear addressing are considered helpful prevention measures for child protection and against sexualized violence, as children often do not realize they have become victims, or the realization comes years later.
In the Bavarian branch alone, over 5,000 employees, nearly 9,100 volunteers, and more than 250,000 supporters contribute to the organization. The Johanniter Accident Help in Bavaria has over 30 experienced child protection specialists who support and advise colleagues in cases of suspected sexualized violence.
Sexualized violence against children is a serious issue that can have lifelong effects, but early help and belief can aid in processing the experiences. The Johanniter in Bavaria has a prevention concept for working with children and young people, focusing on empowering children and ensuring they receive the support they need.
[1] Johanniter-Kinderhaus [2] Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe [3] Technical University of Munich - Diversity Initiatives
- The Johanniter-Kinderhaus, a vital part of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V., works to promote children's developmental years, safeguarding them from various risks like sexualized violence by creating safe environments, promoting awareness, and providing education to prevent abuse or neglect.
- Beyond the Johanniter-Kinderhaus, representatives of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe have participated in diversity initiatives at the Technical University of Munich, possibly expanding their focus to include awareness on protection and support for vulnerable groups, including children.
- The Technical University of Munich, in collaboration with Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, has likely offered educational events to provide knowledge and strategies on issues such as child safety, enlightenment, and prevention of sexual violence and child abuse.
