Leonie Kirschstein knew that the number of sexual violence cases involving children and adolescents would not decline. The psychologist works for the registered nonprofit Zartbitter e.V., which has served as a support center for young victims in city of Cologne in western Germany for nearly four decades. This pioneering organization counsels victims, conducts educational outreach in schools and even stages plays on the topic of sexual violence.
Kirschstein, who has worked for Zartbitter for three years, told DW that the number of unreported cases was much higher: "Crime statistics only include cases that have been reported to the police. But not the ones we deal with every day, such as cases involving peer violence. In many cases, these aren't reported at all, especially when the children are still very young. This group makes up the largest portion of the cases we handle in our counseling process."
Germany: Child sex abuse probe
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Victims of sexual violence in every classroom
The issue of sexual violence is more topical than ever: The World Health Organization estimates that up to 1 million children and adolescents in Germany have experienced or are currently undergoing sexual violence at the hands of adults.
This means that, on average, in every German school classroom, there are one to two children who are victims of sexual violence. Kirschstein, who specializes in psychotherapy with children and adolescents, says: "We receive new cases every day; parents, in particular, call for an initial consultation. Unfortunately, I still very often find the victims wonder whether they themselves did something wrong — that is, whether they said 'no' explicitly and whether their refusal was understood as such by the perpetrator."
Cyber grooming - criminals home in on children
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German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to retain IP addresses
Leonie Kirschstein's observations align with the "Federal Assessment of Sexual Offenses Against Children and Adolescents 2025," which was released on July 21 in Berlin.
It states that the number of cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents remains alarmingly high and has even risen in many areas. The number of sexual abuse offenses against minors under the age of 14 alone rose to 17,126 cases from 16,354 in 2024.
New record highs have also been reached for crimes involving "child pornography" and for the sexual abuse of children without physical contact.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is sounding the alarm: "The high number of cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents shows that we must protect our children even better — especially in the digital world," he said. "Perpetrators must not be allowed to feel safe and hide in the anonymity of the internet. In the fight against these repugnant crimes, our law enforcement agencies need effective tools such as IP address logging — to identify perpetrators, prosecute them consistently, and put an end to active abuse," Dobrindt told the media.
BKA President warns of 'cybergrooming'
To better prosecute cybercrime, the federal government is currently pushing for a law allowing the retention of IP addresses for three months. Dobrindt is confident that such a law could be passed as early as this fall. He has also called for the establishment of the post of European Commissioner for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents.
Holger Münch, the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), meanwhile, has warned against "cybergrooming." This refers to adults deliberately contacting children and adolescents online to initiate sexual contact.
"More than 98% of all perpetrators are male, with an average age of about 24; the victims are predominantly female and, on average, just under 12 years old. The primary risk factor is a lack of awareness of the risks associated with one's own online behavior. While teenage perpetrators tend to act out of boredom or just to pass the time, adult perpetrators often have sexual motives and specifically target minors," Münch said, adding that this often leads to a subsequent meeting and abuse.
Young people lack adequate legal protection
Independent Federal Commissioner Against Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents Kerstin Claus is calling for better protection, especially for teenagers in Germany
"Instances of 'sextortion' are increasing dramatically, and cybergrooming affects nearly one in three people between the ages of 14 and 17," she said. "And yet it is not currently categorized as a criminal offense."
What is not a criminal offense does not appear in statistics, and what is not counted there is not combated, Claus said. "That is why adolescents must be protected from cybergrooming, and sextortion must be classified as a distinct sexual offense. The federal situation report cannot even begin to reflect the true extent of the sexual violence to which young people are exposed online every day," she warned.
This article has been translated from German.