Hasty keys in cases of violence against children would do harm. The protection of the children must come first, even before the punishment for the perpetrators.
After the suspicion of abuse in a care facility for small children in Lech became known, the Austrian child protection centers distanced themselves in a broadcast from the activities of the Alliance for Child Protection and emphasized that there was no cooperation whatsoever. The Viennese club had made the possible abuse of a three-year-old public. The child protection centers demand quality criteria for professional child protection.
Professional child protection is technically well-founded, works in a network and with care, was emphasized in the broadcast on Monday. Scandalization does not help in cases of suspicion, the child protection centers stated. Rather, what is needed is “clear quality criteria for organizations that call themselves child protection facilities or act in the name of child protection,” emphasized Petra Birchbauer, chairwoman of the Federal Association of Austrian Child Protection Centers.
Be careful with hasty conclusions
The child protection centers emphasized that hasty conclusions in cases of violence against children or suspected abuse do more harm than good. “Possible consequences for the children and their parents/reference persons are accepted; Fear stoked – all in the name of child protection. But: child protection looks different,” the broadcast said.
“The desire for penalties for perpetrators of child abuse is understandable, but not the only solution. The primary concern must be the protection of children. The Austrian child protection centers, which have quality-assured expertise, have been established contact points for children affected by violence and their caregivers for years,” said Petra Sansone, board member and managing director of Kinder- und Jugend GmbH in Tirol.
It was emphasized that serious child protection works in a network and, if necessary, in cooperation with the responsible child and youth welfare agency. “Recognized child protection organizations don’t scandal – they act with caution. Measures such as documentation, supervision and further training ensure quality for professional child protection. The Austrian child protection centers with 34 locations are contact points for parents who are concerned.
(WHAT)