Naked danger in the outdoor pool: Cologne starts a courageous protection campaign!

Naked danger in the outdoor pool: Cologne starts a courageous protection campaign!

The current situation in German swimming pools is causing concern and has resulted in a comprehensive campaign against sexual harassment. In Cologne in particular, a large-scale initiative has recently been launched to protect children and young people. This campaign was launched following a serious incident in which a 13-year-old girl was allegedly sexually abused in Agrippabad. Eight teenagers and young men were involved in this incident. While a 16-year-old was charged, the cases against the other seven accused were dropped, fueling further discussions about safety in swimming pools. How t online reports, the new campaign “I’ll say it!” aims to encourage children and young people to seek help from pool staff.

The campaign is being carried out in collaboration with the Cologne police, the Child Protection Association and the Zartbitter advice center. Over 100 bathroom staff were trained in how to react in boundary-violating situations. Child-friendly posters and flyers, designed by illustrator Dorothee Wolters among others, make it clear that harassment such as groping and secret photography will not be tolerated. The slogan “Getting help is not cheating” is intended to both encourage those affected and deter potential perpetrators. Loud ssbk The campaign is supported by symbolic materials such as red and white lifebuoys, which symbolize protection and intervention.

Poster campaign in Büren

In parallel to the activities in Cologne, youth care in Büren has also actively taken action against sexual harassment in swimming pools. In cooperation with the DLRG Büren and several advice centers, a poster campaign was developed that visualizes invasive situations. A poster shows a red-haired, white woman touching a boy with a darker complexion underwater. Another motif illustrates a girl with a North African phenotype who is approached by a lighter-skinned man in the locker room express reported. These depictions are the subject of an ongoing discussion about their reality in German swimming pools.

The organizers of the Cologne poster campaign emphasize that there is no place for misconduct in swimming pools and that the perpetrators should always be kept in view. Critics, including police unionist Manuel Ostermann, complain that the problems presented often do not reflect the true origins of the perpetrators. Instead, men from main asylum countries of origin are often named as the main perpetrators of sexual assaults.

Advanced security measures

In this context, it becomes clear that swimming pools in Germany are increasingly perceived as high-security zones. The introduction of entry controls and the presence of security personnel attempts to counteract possible attacks. However, experts believe the measures are insufficient to permanently solve the problem. The Cologne baths have trained and sensitized over 100 employees, while in Berlin and Munich special notices in Arabic were installed to directly address the conspicuous target group.

These two campaigns are part of a larger national and international trend to seriously address the issue of sexual harassment and bring about change in the public sphere. The initiatives in Cologne and Büren show that various actors are working together to ensure the protection of children and young people in swimming pools and to offer them a safe environment.