How can cultural education institutions protect children from sexualised violence?
Eurochild German member BJK releases a practical guide showing how participation of children and adolescents can be lived in the prevention of violence: in projects, workshops or institutional concepts.
In the program “Start2Act − Safer Spaces and Participation in the Arts– Creating and Promoting Child Safeguarding Policies”, BKJ was able to support more than 250 projects of institutions, associations, and cultural education organisations through funding, materials, and a training series in establishing protection concepts and prevention measures.
The new report features:
- Examples from their re-granting funded projects
- Interviews with professionals in cultural education and experts in the prevention of (sexual) violence
- Specialist articles providing the theoretical background
- Practical methods offering inspiration to try out new approaches or further develop existing safeguarding policies
In the context of child protection, it is clear why participation is a central principle of cultural education: where children and young people are allowed to participate, responsibility, trust and self-determination grow. This principle is also a cornerstone of the development and implementation of protective structures against sexualized violence. Cultural education provides various opportunities to discuss personal boundaries, experiences, and protection against violence in an age-appropriate manner, and to create safe and empowering environments. For this to succeed, adults need to feel well prepared and safe in dealing with the topics, the methods and their own framework of action.