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Germany has taken a decisive step in the fight against sexual violence against children. The newly adopted law, the Gesetz zur Stärkung der Strukturen gegen sexuelle Gewalt an Kindern und Jugendlichen (UBSKMG), introduces measures to strengthen structures against sexual violence against children and young people. The federal government is sending a strong signal with the UBSKMG: prevention, support for survivors, and structural accountability are being significantly expanded and legally secured:
Kerstin Claus, the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues, welcomed the legislative move. She emphasised the growing number of risks for children, particularly in digital environments:
“The number of crimes against children and young people remains high. The number of unreported cases is huge, and the risks are almost immeasurable — especially in the digital world. There is no social control and no safe, child-friendly spaces, so young people are always at the risk of falling victim to perpetrators' strategies.”
Key Provisions of the UBSKMG:
Institutional strengthening: The Office of the Independent Commissioner, the Survivors Board and the Independent Inquiry Commission will now have a firm legal basis and secure, long-term funding. The Commissioner will be elected by the German Bundestag based on a recommendation from the federal government.
Research and Reporting: A national research centre on child sexual abuse is to be established. This will support the Commissioner's regular reporting on the scale and impact of sexual violence against children.
Participation of Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: The Survivors Board will be permanently established. Survivors of child sexual abuse will be empowered to contribute their perspectives and help shape political processes.
Independent Inquiry and Accountability: The legally anchored Inquiry Commission will regularly report on how institutions have handled abuse in the past. Its findings will highlight areas requiring reform. Survivors will have improved access to support services, case files, and scientifically grounded case analyses.
Prevention and Quality Development in Child Protection: For the first time, the Federal Institute for Public Health (formerly the Federal Centre for Health Education) receives a legal mandate to prevent child sexual abuse. Protection concepts (Schutzkonzepte) will become a mandatory element of child and youth welfare services. A new medical consultation service will be introduced to assess child endangerment risks.
The full text of the Law is available here: German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs – Official Text of the Law