Protection of minors
Service description
Why do we need youth protection?
Young people are exposed to a wide range of influences that they are not yet able to judge reliably in every respect in their various age and development phases. They therefore need special protection from hazards.
On the one hand, this protection is guaranteed by state regulations, the so-called statutory protection of minors. However, these regulations can only be fully effective if the children and young people themselves are empowered to protect themselves. This is made possible by educational child and youth protection, which is the responsibility of the youth welfare office.
Legal and educational youth protection - what's the difference?
Effective youth protection involves a combination of legal and educational regulations and programmes. The legal protection of minors focuses on protecting young people from danger and is aimed at adults, who must fulfil their responsibility towards young people. This involves legally effective rules and monitoring. The aim is, for example, age-appropriate use of alcoholic beverages, image and sound media (photos, videos, music, computer games) and social media. The regulations for the legal protection of minors are primarily anchored in the Youth Protection Act. However, legal regulations and controls are not sufficient for effective protection of minors. Educational child and youth protection helps young people to develop the ability to recognise dangers themselves and to learn how to deal competently with potentially dangerous temptations. Various services contribute to the development of young people's judgement and self-determination. Educational child and youth protection services are anchored in the Child and Youth Welfare Act and are provided by the local youth welfare office.
What laws apply to the protection of minors?
The legal and educational protection of children and young people are regulated in different laws. The Youth Protection Act regulates the protection of minors in public. It provides information on the conditions under which young people are allowed to purchase and consume alcohol and cigarettes or how long they are allowed to stay in pubs or alone in public places in the evening. Educational child and youth protection is enshrined in the Child and Youth Welfare Act. It promotes the personal responsibility of young people and supports parents in their duties. The Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media deals with the protection of children and young people from harmful media influences. In cinemas and on television, for example, there are recommendations as to the age at which a film should be released for children or young people. The protection of young people at work is regulated in the Youth Employment Protection Act. Among other things, this provides information on break regulations for young people who are working or in training.