Sexual violence against children in MV: case numbers remain worrying

Sexual violence against children in MV: case numbers remain worrying

In Germany, the number of cases of sexual violence against children and young people remains alarmingly high. According to that NDR In 2024, 606 minors became victims of sexual violence in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Statistics from the State Criminal Police Office show that 341 of these victims were children and 265 were young people under the age of 18. These figures are in the context of a slight decrease compared to the previous year, but remain worrying and reflect a high risk potential.

The offenses recorded range from rape and sexual assault to extensive abuse. What is worrying is the fact that experts claim that the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. Many cases go unreported out of fear or shame, which shows how urgently comprehensive educational work is still needed. “Most crimes are committed in a seemingly safe environment, often by people who are close to the victim,” said the LKA.

Dark field and online crime

A comprehensive report from the Federal Criminal Police Office describes the shocking reality behind these acts. One of the largest dark field studies in Germany has shown that only one percent of sexual crimes are reported. This shows how big the problem is and that many of those affected prefer to remain silent, either out of fear of a lack of evidence or a desire to put the crimes behind them.

There are special dangers lurking on the Internet, such as cybergrooming, which will be recorded separately in the statistics from this year. In 2024 there was an increase in crimes on the Internet, including the targeted initiation of sexual contacts with minors. Perpetrators often pose as people of the same age and try to gain the trust of young users.

Age and gender of those affected

The numbers of the daily news illustrate the drastic situation: In 2024, around 18,000 cases of sexual violence were recorded in Germany, including 16,354 children and 1,191 young people. What is particularly striking is that 13,365 of those affected were girls, while 4,720 were boys. In over 57 percent of cases, the victim and perpetrator had a personal relationship, making the situation even more frightening.

Almost a third of the suspects were under 18 years old, and a worrying 12.1 percent were even under 14 years old, i.e. not of criminal responsibility. This raises questions about education and prevention, especially considering that many crimes occur in one's own social environment.

The alarming number of cases and the high number of unreported cases are both a warning and an appeal. The federal government, represented by politicians such as Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, is calling for measures such as the storage of IP addresses in order to better identify perpetrators. Despite these discussions, the feeling of security among the population remains tense. Women say they often feel unsafe, especially at night in public spaces, while at the same time a majority call for more police presence.

In summary, it is clear that both society and the authorities are called upon to vigorously continue the fight against sexual violence against children and young people and at the same time to create better awareness in order to reduce the number of unreported cases and ensure safety.