Strong together against sexual violence: specialist day in Eschwege!

Strong together against sexual violence: specialist day in Eschwege!

On September 17, 2025, the second specialist day took place in Eschwege as part of the “#Aktion Schutzschild” initiative of the Werra-Meißner Police Department. This event aims to promote the fight against sexual violence against children and young people through preventive measures. Around 80 participants, mainly educational specialists from primary and special schools as well as daycare centers in the Werra-Meißner district, took advantage of the opportunity for further training and exchange. The initiative “Safe together in Hesse – for children and young people” is behind this important event, which was organized by the police, the Werra-Meißner district and the coordination committee against sexual violence. According to reports from the Hesse police, the content of the event is tailored to the topic both preventively and sensitively.

Police Vice President Klaus Wittich opened the event and made it clear how important it is to raise awareness of this urgent issue. Martin Hofmockel, the new head of the youth and family department of the Werra-Meißner district, also appeared and, together with Wittich, emphasized the challenges that specialists face. Its goal is to sustainably improve the safety and well-being of children and young people. A particularly striking fact that the Werra Rundschau highlights is that an average of two to three children in German school classes have already been sexually abused. Therefore, raising awareness among professionals is crucial.

Topics of the lectures

The focus of the lectures was on relevant police content. Chief Criminal Inspector Carolin Grede discussed the processing of sexual offenses and provided information about potential sources of danger and recommendations for action for specialists. Police Chief Inspector Alexander Först spoke about the rights of perpetrators and victims and presented the offers for victim protection and victim support. This content met with great interest and was fundamental for understanding the complex subject matter.

“Combating sexual violence requires our joint efforts,” emphasized Wittich. This underlines the importance of cooperation between society, authorities and organizations in order to effectively combat these crimes. The specialist day not only promoted theoretical knowledge, but also practical networking among the participants.

Prevention programs and outlook

After a coffee break, the “Digital Native” prevention program was presented, which is aimed at teachers, parents and guardians. The aim of this program is to educate people about criminally relevant content and to strengthen a sense of responsibility when dealing with digital media. The initiative reaffirms that adults play a crucial role in protecting children.

Especially in view of the 30-year history of the coordination committee against sexual violence in the Werra-Meißner district, it is important to sensitize the community to the issues of sexual violence and child pornography. Founded after a tragic case of sexual abuse in the 1990s, the committee has made it its mission to represent the interests of affected children and young people in the best possible way.

Greater awareness and active participation are essential when it comes to protecting children from sexual violence. The initiative clearly shows that exchange and networking among experts in this area are essential to improve the situation for the most vulnerable in our society.

For further information and insights into the “#Aktion Schutzschild” initiative, visit the Hessen Police’s reporting at here, as well as the exciting analysis from Werra Rundschau, which provides a detailed review of similar events: here. You can also find out more about the current figures and facts on sexual violence on the website of the Abuse Commissioner: here.