Child and youth protection

Children and young people are victims of violence and crime to a high degree. The violence caused by sexual abuse is particularly serious. However, theft, robbery, domestic violence and assault also pose risks to children and young people.

The field of action of child and youth protection includes statutory child and youth protection, educational child and youth protection and youth media protection.In addition to prosecuting and punishing offenses, the aim is to avert imminent danger from young people and to preventively provide young people with the necessary self-assessment and skills to deal with dangers appropriately.

The main tasks of child and youth protection include:

• The statutory protection of children and young people aims to protect young people from dangers and impairments
.
• The prevention of violence through increased education and targeted advice and support is primarily about preventing acts of violence.
• The aim of educational child and youth protection is to enable young people to deal responsibly with themselves and others.
• The protection of minors from harmful media promotes the media literacy of children and young people and aims to protect them from harmful influences.

Find help quickly
The Working Group for the Protection of Children and Young People (AJS) in Cologne offers information on all aspects of child and youth protection on the phone hotline 0221 921392-33. Further information on the tasks involved in the protection of children and young people and the legal basis can be found on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.