Shadows of the past: allegations in the SOS Children's Village Altmünster!

Shadows of the past: allegations in the SOS Children's Village Altmünster!

In the last few days, serious allegations have been made against the SOS Children's Villages, particularly against the facility in Altmünster. A person affected contacted ORF and reported physical attacks and degrading situations that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, sexual assaults in the area around the site are also mentioned, which attract the attention of the public and those responsible.

The allegations are directed against two former carers as well as the current management of the facility. While the former supervisors are facing serious charges, the allegations against the current site management are more in the area of ​​improper behavior and isolated physical attacks, which are not of a sexual nature. In response to these serious allegations, SOS Children's Villages has ordered an internal investigation.

Verification and support measures

On October 16, the current site management was released and an interim management was appointed. These measures are intended to independently examine the allegations and are not to be understood as prejudgment, as the presumption of innocence applies. Those affected were offered support, including participation in a victim protection process.

Due to the seriousness of the allegations, we would like to point out that they may be legally barred. There are already three known cases of the main accused from the 1960s to the early 1990s, which were recognized as part of the victim protection process. Those affected by these earlier incidents received recognition services and therapy offers. However, there are concerns that the consequences under labor law, such as amicable separations, are considered inadequate from today's perspective.

Relevance of child protection

The incidents in Altmünster shine a bright light on the need for effective child protection, an issue that is also underscored by the Federal Child Protection Act, which came into force in Germany in 2012. This law focuses on prevention and intervention in child protection and aims to achieve improvements in this area. Not only parents, but also professionals such as doctors and employees of youth welfare offices are held responsible for ensuring the well-being of children.

The basis of the law is based on the findings of experts and exchanges about the challenges in home education and child sexual abuse. In order to strengthen child protection structures, the Federal Foundation for Early Help, which has been active since January 1, 2018, aims to promote psychosocial support for families with small children, for which 51 million euros are made available annually.

The current allegations against the SOS facility in Altmünster illustrate the urgency of a firm framework as well as the need for education and reforms in the area of ​​child protection. It remains to be seen what results the internal audit will bring and how those responsible will deal with such serious issues in the future.

For further information on the issue of child protection and the legal framework covered by the Federal Child Protection Act, we recommend consulting the official website of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs: BMBF - The Federal Child Protection Act.

In addition, further basic information on the topic can be found on juslovnit.com.