Testimonies about child sexual abuse in the family. Challenges of addressing the private sphere.

BACKGROUND: This article is based on a study analysing survivors' testimonies (n = 870) about child sexual abuse (CSA) within the family. The context of the study is the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Germany (IICSA). The Inquiry's work is based on the concept of witnessing and supporting mainly survivors of CSA to share their stories. Since 2016 the Inquiry has collected more than 2000 written and oral reports. OBJECTIVE: The article explores the challenges of working through and coming to terms with past and present aspects of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the private space of the family. The main focus here is on findings from the statistical analysis on perpetrators and bystanders. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study involved an evaluation of 870 reports by survivors and third parties. METHODS: Descriptive analysis was carried out on mentions of perpetrators, strategies of perpretators, climate in the family, bystanders in the family. RESULTS: Significantly more female than male survivors have contacted the Inquiry. The youngest people who approached the Inquiry were adolescents and young adults between 16 and 21 years of age. The oldest people were between 76 and 80 years old (for reasons of secure pseudonymisation, spans of five years are given). The results pointed to insights about male and female perpetrators and the situation of the affected children in the family. In 47 % of the mentions of perpetrators, fathers and stepfathers were named, in 9 % it was the mother or stepmother, and in 11 % biological siblings were named. There is a proportion of cases in which more than one perpetrator is mentioned. CONCLUSIONS: One aim was to identify common characteristics in the actions of perpetrators within families as well as insights into the structures in families that promote child sexual abuse. The discussion shed light on the importance of the third party and the possibilities for the perpetrators to shape the environment of the family as a whole. Witnessing by survivors is an important epistemological, ethical, and political instrument for creating knowledge.

One year into COVID-19: What have we learned about child maltreatment reports and child protective service responses?

BACKGROUND: A year has passed since COVID-19 began disrupting systems. Although children are not considered a risk population for the virus, there is accumulating knowledge regarding children's escalating risk for maltreatment during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The current study is part of a larger initiative using an international platform to examine child maltreatment (CM) reports and child protective service (CPS) responses in various countries. The first data collection, which included a comparison between eight countries after the pandemic's first wave (March-June 2020), illustrated a worrisome picture regarding children's wellbeing. The current study presents the second wave of data across 12 regions via population data (Australia [New South Wales], Brazil, United States [California, Pennsylvania], Colombia, England, Germany, Israel, Japan, Canada [Ontario, Quebec], South Africa). METHOD: Regional information was gathered, including demographics, economic situation, and CPS responses to COVID-19. A descriptive analysis was conducted to provide an overview of the phenomenon. RESULTS: Across all of the countries, COVID-19 had a substantial negative impact on the operation of CPSs and the children and families they serve by disrupting in-person services. One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, new reports of CM varied across the regions.1 In some, the impact of COVID-19 on CPS was low to moderate, while in others, more significant changes created multiple challenges for CPS services. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 created a barrier for CPS to access and protect children. The dramatic variance between the regions demonstrated how social, economic and structural contexts impact both CM reports and CPS responses.

Child maltreatment reports and Child Protection Service responses during COVID-19: Knowledge exchange among Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Israel, and South Africa.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic impacting child protection services (CPSs) in many countries. With quarantine and social distancing restrictions, school closures, and recreational venues suspended or providing reduced access, the social safety net for violence prevention has been disrupted significantly. Impacts include the concerns of underreporting and increased risk of child abuse and neglect, as well as challenges in operating CPSs and keeping their workforce safe. OBJECTIVE: The current discussion paper explored the impact of COVID-19 on child maltreatment reports and CPS responses by comparing countries using available population data. METHOD: Information was gathered from researchers in eight countries, including contextual information about the country's demographics and economic situation, key elements of the CPS, and the CPS response to COVID-19. Where available, information about other factors affecting children was also collected. These data informed a discussion about between-country similarities and differences. RESULTS: COVID-19 had significant impact on the operation of every CPS, whether in high- income or low-income countries. Most systems encountered some degree of service disruption or change. Risk factors for children appeared to increase while there were often substantial deficits in CPS responses, and in most countries there was at a temporary decrease in CM reports despite the increased risks to children. CONCLUSIONS: The initial data presented and discussed among the international teams pointed to the way COVID-19 has hampered CPS responses and the protection of children more generally in most jurisdictions, highlighting that children appear to have been at greater risk for maltreatment during COVID-19.

[Childhood Experiences of Adolescents in Boarding Schools. A Comparison with Adolescents in Residential Care and with the General Population]. / Kindheitserlebnisse von Jugendlichen in Internaten. Ein Vergleich mit Jugendlichen aus Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen und der Allgemeinbevölkerung.

Childhood Experiences of Adolescents in Boarding Schools. A Comparison with Adolescents in Residential Care and with the General Population Various studies indicate that students in boarding schools experience a lot of violence during their accommodation. However, it is not proved whether adolescents in boarding schools are also a burdensome group regarding early childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse. The aim of the study was to find out more about the experiences of adolescents in boarding schools and to determine whether there are differences between adolescents in residential care and between the general population. Furthermore, it should be examined whether boys and girls differ in their experiences. In the study, adolescents of boarding schools and of residential care all over Germany, starting at the age of 15 (n = 322), were asked regarding physical and emotional neglect/abuse, light/severe parent violence, negative/positive educational behavior of the parents. The results show that students in boarding schools were less likely to be affected by childhood maltreatment and more likely to have experienced positive parental behavior compared to children in residential care. Compared to the general population, students in boarding schools were more often and more severely affected by parental violence. Moreover, girls had experienced parental violence more often than boys. The results indicate that in boarding schools there is a need for support offers for adolescents with a history of violent experiences and that the risk group should be identified directly at the admission to the school.

[Mental Disorders of Adolescents in Boarding Schools: A Germany-Wide Survey]. / Psychische Auffälligkeiten von Jugendlichen in Internaten: Eine deutschlandweite Befragung.

Mental Disorders of Adolescents in Boarding Schools: A Germany-Wide Survey Overall, research on children and adolescents in boarding schools is still scarce. Especially mental disorders of students in boarding schools have not been investigated. As part of this study, a standardized questionnaire survey helped to ask adolescents starting from the age of 15 in boarding schools about mental disorders and depressive symptoms. 169 adolescents from a total of twelve boarding schools in Germany participated in the study. The results of the present Germany-wide survey of adolescents in boarding schools show that the students are a group of rather inconspicuous adolescents, especially the group of boys. Girls show increased risk of depressive behavior and externalizing problems in comparison to the general population. Therefore, child and adolescent psychiatric care should be considered when placed in a boarding school.

[Arrived in Germany: When Children Who have Fled Tell their Stories]. / Geflüchtete Kinder in Deutschland: Was sie über ihre Hoffnungen, Ängste und Bedürfnisse erzählen.

Arrived in Germany: When Children Who have Fled Tell their Stories For this study, we listened to children who had fled with their families. We made a very conscious decision to focus on accompanied minors who have been displaced, because they go through the standard asylum system with their parent/guardian, which is why they often remain "invisible" as regards their own needs and their specific situation. We gave accompanied children who had fled a space where they could tell their stories and asked them to talk about their memories of their countries of origin, their experiences during their journey and on arrival in Germany, and their lives here, their concerns, but also their hopes and desires. The children presented here come from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Kosovo, Serbia and Syria. They therefore represent the countries from which people have set out on the always difficult, often life-threatening journey to Germany. And they represent the diversity of experiences of flight and arrival. Those responsible for this study come from various academic disciplines and areas of work. This was important to us in order to focus on the complexity of being a child and a child's everyday life under the conditions experienced while on the run. In view of the vulnerability of children, many challenges are regarded in a different light from previously, for example concerning the organisation of initial reception centres, education and care provisions, medical care, protected spaces and privacy. We want to encourage you to see these spaces, the bureaucratic procedures and coping with everyday life through the eyes of a child.