Among other things, it is planned that kindergartens will have to create a protection concept and appoint child protection officers, as Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) told APA. A competence center is created in MA 11.
Wiederkehr has already taken steps after the suspected case in a kindergarten – which caused discussions not least because parents complained that the information was too late. The head of municipal department 10 (kindergartens) was relieved of her post. A legislative initiative is now also to follow. It is based on measures recommended by the group of experts on the child protection action plan, as explained by the city council responsible for childcare. The committee met yesterday, Wednesday evening.
Regular training
Anchoring child protection is now a key innovation. The law should expressly state that ensuring the protection of children from physical and psychological violence is one of the important tasks of kindergartens. And: It provides for mandatory child protection concepts for operators.
This requirement is integrated into both the Vienna Kindergarten Act and the Vienna Day Care Act, which applies to groups of children and childminders. It will then apply to all elementary educational institutions in Vienna, i.e. not only to the city locations, but also to the private ones. In the future, operators will also have to appoint child protection officers and offer or facilitate regular training and further education.
According to Wiederkehr, the path for the timely implementation is as follows: The draft law has already been coordinated with experts. It should be available in late summer as part of an assessment process. The decision should be made before the end of the year.
Own competence center planned
The framework and the focal points for the necessary protection concepts are currently being developed, it said. This is intended to provide a “basic framework” that all facilities and their employees can use as a guide. These too, it is emphasized, should be protected by the concepts. Because these would mean clear processes that would also provide security and could have a preventive effect.
There are also plans to set up a child protection competence center in MA 11 (child and youth welfare). It should focus on “child protection in elementary school”. Ensuring compliance with the legal requirements is mentioned as the main task. It should also act as a point of contact for the various supporting organizations.
Wiederkehr asserted: “Child protection is paramount in Vienna and the action plan will strengthen children’s rights.” All experts agreed that it was important and necessary to be anchored in law.
“A big step”
Hedwig Wölfl, managing director of the “möwe” child protection center and member of the committee, was also pleased in a statement: “It is very good that concrete steps are now being taken so that after the excitement of the past few weeks, parents can regain trust and a good feeling if their children are cared for in a facility in Vienna.” Clear rules of cooperation would create a supportive and protective environment in everyday pedagogical work.
Caroline Culen, Managing Director of the Austrian League for Child and Youth Health, also emphasized that the obligation to develop organizationally adapted child protection concepts has been seen as essential for quality assurance in care facilities for years. “The City of Vienna is taking a big step here. In our view, a Federal Child Protection Act would be important and right, in order to make educational and leisure areas safe places for all children in Austria.”
Source: Nachrichten
