Violence against children

Protecting children from all forms of violence is one of the most important topics of our development work. To achieve this, we work in and on numerous protection programs. The basis for this is our Child Protection Policy.

• What is meant by violence against children?
• Which children are (particularly) affected by violence?
• What should I do if I notice a case of violence against children?
• How does Kindernothilfe advocate for child protection?
• Suspected cases within the context of Kindernothilfe
• Who works for better child protection at Kindernothilfe?
• How does Kindernothilfe investigate reported cases of violence against children?

According to the definition by the World Health Organization (WHO), violence against children includes "all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence or commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power."

You can find more detailed definitions and further information on the different forms of violence against children in our Child Protection Policy.

Violence against children affects children in every country and every society—regardless of age, gender, origin, skin color, religion, cultural and social background, disability, or sexual orientation.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20 percent of all girls and approximately eight percent of all boys worldwide are victims of sexual violence. Some children are at particular risk due to certain characteristics and contexts. For example, children with disabilities are twice as likely to be affected as children without disabilities.
Children who are raised in institutions or otherwise cared for are also at increased risk. The number of unreported cases is many times higher. Many cases of violence are never reported or only come to light very late.

Have you witnessed a case of violence against children or do you have concrete suspicions? Do not hesitate to report your suspicions of violence against children. A child could be in danger or seriously threatened. Please report the case to a competent organization or authority and help to clarify the situation. 

Kindernothilfe supports numerous protection programs to protect children from violence in the projects it supports and in activities in Germany.
This is based on Kindernothilfe's child protection policy. It obliges all persons who visit projects abroad or participate in domestic activities to observe the established principles in order to actively minimize the risk of violence against children.
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To enable all partner organizations to develop and implement child protection measures independently, Kindernothilfe conducts training courses with them worldwide. Partner organizations are supported in developing their own child protection policy and establishing a child protection system.

Our Training & Consulting team supports and advises schools, daycare centers, organizations, and sports clubs in developing individualized, child rights-based protection concepts to prevent violence against children and young people. The team also offers various training courses and workshops on child protection topics that raise awareness, educate, and strengthen participants' skills in their everyday work.

Through its alliance and network work in Germany, Kindernothilfe also raises awareness of child protection issues with events, working group activities, and campaigns.
For example, as part of its cooperation with the Association of German Development Non-Governmental Organizations (Venro), Kindernothilfe has actively contributed to anchoring the issue of child protection in Venro's member organizations and beyond in the respective partner structures abroad. By signing the “Venro Code on Children's Rights: Protection of Children from Abuse and Exploitation in Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid,” members commit themselves to developing and applying appropriate instruments and structures for preventing and dealing with cases of abuse.

If you would like to report suspected violence against children in connection with a Kindernothilfe activity, please contact us as soon as possible. In principle, anyone can report a suspicion to Kindernothilfe. Our system for reporting cases of violence against children is aimed at people who have been involved as journalists, sponsors, or in other roles in and around Kindernothilfe projects, events, working groups, or campaigns in Germany or abroad.

In order for the Kindernothilfe child protection team to respond quickly, it is important to have as much information as possible. Therefore, please use the form for reporting suspected cases. Completely filled out forms help us to investigate reported cases quickly and comprehensively.

Not sure if your suspicion is justified? The form will help you assess the case and make it easier for you to describe it correctly. All information about you, the child concerned, and the alleged perpetrator will be treated confidentially.

Cases of violence against children can also be reported outside the structures of Kindernothilfe. For this purpose, an independent person, the child protection ombudsperson, is appointed by the board of Kindernothilfe. This person has a background in criminal law, knowledge of measures for the care of children who have been victims of violence, and intercultural competence.

The Kindernothilfe reporting system has been expanded to include digital whistleblower software. This is available to whistleblowers worldwide and in multiple languages, enabling both anonymous reporting and the confidential provision of personal contact details.

Child protection is one of the most important issues in the work and for the work of Kindernothilfe. That is why it is important for us to bring together and utilize the greatest possible expertise. To this end, we have developed an effective system in which the interaction of roles and actors ensures child protection.

Our Child Protection Team ensures that the protection of children is taken into account. It consists of Kindernothilfe's Child Protection Officer, Jörg Lichtenberg, our Child Rights Approach Manager, and two employees from each of the individual country departments for Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Child Protection Team is permanently formed and represented in the Child Protection Case Management Team, which meets to review suspected cases.

The Child Protection Team assists in investigating reported cases. In addition, it is an important point of contact for the country departments and partner organizations on the ground and is in regular contact with the various work units within the organization regarding the implementation of the internal child protection system. This ensures that our child protection system is anchored and implemented in all areas of work.

In addition, Kindernothilfe has had an independent ombudsperson for child protection for many years. Prof. Dr. Kerstin Feldhoff, professor of law at Münster University of Applied Sciences, is primarily involved in investigating suspected cases when the suspicion is directed at Kindernothilfe managers or executives. She advises the child protection team and can be called upon to join the child protection case management team if necessary. In addition, she supports the actors in the internal child protection system with her expertise as needed.
As an ombudsperson, she has no direct connection to Kindernothilfe. In addition to her legal expertise, Kerstin Feldhoff has the necessary intercultural competence and experience in dealing with children who have been victims of violence. Our ombudsperson will treat your concerns with the necessary discretion.

Suspected cases are reported to Kindernothilfe, for example, by travelers, journalists, employees of partner organizations, projects, or children themselves.

After the report, the Child Protection Case Management Team, consisting of at least three people, is formed. It comprises the child protection officer, a member of the child protection team (usually from the relevant country department) and an employee from the respective work unit. The case management team is responsible for recording the facts of the case within the scope of its capabilities in order to initiate all further necessary steps.

Kindernothilfe's child protection policy clearly defines not only rules of conduct but also responsibilities for investigating suspected cases of violence against children.

In suspected cases, Kindernothilfe's child protection case management team is formed. It consists of the child protection officer, a member of the child protection team (usually from the relevant country department) and an employee from the respective work unit. The case management team is responsible for recording the facts of the case within the scope of its capabilities in order to initiate all further necessary steps.

These transparent control and complaint mechanisms are designed to ensure child protection. When a case is reported, Kindernothilfe uses the following process to quickly investigate:

In addition, every employee of Kindernothilfe is obliged to report potential dangers to children and to respond to any cases of violence in accordance with the guidelines of the child protection policy.