Background
In 2010, there was an increase in reports of abuse cases in schools and boarding schools. In response to this “abuse scandal”, the Federal Government (2010/11) convened the Round Table for “Child Sexual Abuse” and established the Office of an Independent Federal Commissioner Against Child Sexual Abuse (UBSKM).
The Office of the UBSKM
Various people have held the Office of the UBSKM in recent years. The first Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues was Dr Christine Bergmann, followed by Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig in 2011. Kerstin Claus has held office since 2022.
Tasks of the UBSKM
The UBSKM is tasked with raising awareness of sexual violence against children and adolescents, supporting those affected, improving protection measures, identifying the need for legal and societal action and reappraising abuse cases in Germany.
To achieve this, it is important to understand how frequently sexual violence occurs against children. However, there is currently a lack of scientifically reliable data. Above all, these studies would need to be repeated regularly in order to understand how the prevalence of sexual violence changes over time. To date, such studies do not exist.
This is why, in 2021, the National Council against Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents called for the establishment of a centre to regularly conduct surveys such as this.
The Office of the UBSKM therefore commissioned the establishment of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents (ZEFSG) and the implementation of the "Safe!” study.
The National Council against Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents
The National Council against Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents was jointly constituted by the UBSKM and the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). Its members include expert representatives from politics, civil society, academia and professional practice as well as members from the UBSKM's Survivors’ Board. The Council aims to develop measurable improvements to permanently combat sexual violence against children and adolescents and the consequences it causes.
The Survivors’ Board at UBSKM
The Survivors’ Board is an advisory body attached to the Office of the UBSKM. It was established in 2015 to bring survivors’ concerns into the public eye and give them a place in political discourse. All members are volunteers. They advocate for the interests of survivors of sexual violence and give a face and a voice to this topic.