PREVENTION

Sexual violence against children and teens/adolescents is happening everywhere. While it is mainly perpetrated in real space by people from their close environment, the people who abuse the trust of children and teens/adolescents on the web are usually strangers.

Effective prevention therefore uses multiple measures, networks the different levels, and holds all members of a society accountable. 

We will provide you with suitable prevention offerings.

It is usually difficult for those affected by sexual violence to talk about an act. They are often ashamed and wrongly feel that they themselves are responsible. By raising the public's awareness of sexual violence against children and teens/adolescents, we aim to create a social climate in which those affected can reach out for help quite naturally. 

We would also like to see a society which does not only condemn sexual violence with words, but which displays moral courage when needed: whether by making a report on clickandstop.ch if they have discovered pedocriminal content, or by not ignoring a suspect case in their environment. If you are not sure how to react in such a situation, you can obtain anonymous and competent advice from our experts.

Information on the legal situation regarding sexual abuse and illegal pornography (Swiss Crime Prevention)

Institutions such as schools and youth centres as well as leisure organisations and sports associations have a particular responsibility for protecting children and teens/adolescents from sexual assaults. On the one hand, they have to prevent sexual violence from occurring under their care, and on the other hand, because of their close contact with children and teens/adolescents, they play an important role in early detection.

While public institutions exercise a legal protection mandate and therefore as a rule have to fulfill requirements, protective and preventive measures in leisure organisations frequently depend on the commitment of individual members. 

We recommend all organisations working with children and teens/adolescents to take active preventive measures and draw up appropriate protection schemes. We will be pleased to help you in doing so.

Further information on preventive measures:

• Institutions

• Leisure organisations & associations

Prevention and information for children and teens/adolescents pursue several goals. On the one hand, they are informed about the danger of sexual violence and learn possible defense strategies. On the other hand, they are encouraged to turn to a trusted person in a dangerous situation or after experiencing violence. Children and teens/adolescents have to know that violence suffered – on the internet or in real life – is never their own fault, and where they can seek and find help. 

To achieve this, children and teens/adolescents should be accompanied in their psychosexual development in an age-appropriate way. In addition to protecting their own integrity, they will also learn to perceive and respect other people's boundaries. 

Further information on prevention and information offerings:

• «My body belongs to me» Prevention offering for daycare centres, kindergartens, and schools 

• «Sex education» Information platform for parents and other adults

• «Privacy Playground» Awareness-raising project on sharenting

• «Online-Handbook on Child Trafficking» Online handbook on prevention, identification, and care of underage victims
• «Pornography: Acting within the law» Information on the topic of pornography and its legal framework
• «Programma di prevenzione dei rischi nell’ambito dell’utilizzo delle Tecnologie dell’Informazione e della Comunicazione» (Ticino)

According to studies, only a fraction of sexual assaults are reported to the police. This cannot be altered by more or stricter laws alone. However, rigorous criminal prosecution of reported sexual violence can make a contribution to preventing future victims.

We therefore advocate that reports should be followed up rigorously and thoroughly. This requires smooth collaboration between private and government players and the national and international police forces and law enforcement agencies.

Particularly in the online environment, undercover investigations can also be conducted by experienced specialists. We advocate furnishing the cantonal police forces with the necessary financial resources to actively combat pedocriminality on the internet.

For the vast majority of those affected, it is an immeasurably great burden when they realise that they have pedophile tendencies. They do not want to become perpetrators and often go into isolation voluntarily. Although this initially reduces the risk of their committing assaults, in the medium to long term isolation increases the psychological stress – and therefore the risk of indulging their tendencies.

Those affected are not defenseless against this vicious cycle. Practical experience shows that consultations and therapies reduce the psychological stress and can help in developing effective strategies for coping with everyday life.

Those affected can turn to a number of agencies in Switzerland. These agencies offer anonymous consultations and refer people to specialist therapy offerings if required. The experts from clickandstop.ch also provide affected people with information anonymously – by phone, chat, or contact form. 

Offerings for people with pedophile tendencies:

German-speaking Switzerland

• forio AG
• Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel
• Kein Täter werden
• Beforemore

French-speaking Switzerland

• Verein DIS NO
• Consultation de sexologie HUG
• Consultation Claude Balier CHUV