The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Mama Fatima Singhateh and State Secretary Rolf Schmachtenberg held talks on 18 October 2024 during her official country visit. Country visits, alongside thematic reports, are a common mechanism for reviewing and monitoring the human rights situation in each country. The United Nations Human Rights Council mandates the UN Special Rapporteurs with these tasks.
The aim of Mama Fatima Singhateh's visit was to gain a comprehensive overview of the situation in Germany with regard to the fight against child trafficking and child prostitution. The protection of children's human rights is the fundamental objective of this effort. The UN Special Rapporteur is expected to present the findings of her visit to Germany to the United Nations Human Rights Council in early 2025.
In her talks with State Secretary Rolf Schmachtenberg, Mama Fatima Singhateh was particularly interested in the reorganisation and implementation of social compensation law in Germany: "The new legislation is very impressive on a conceptual level. I am glad to be able to cite it as a good example in my report."
Before the reform of the legislation on the compensation of victims of violent crime, which came into force on 1 January 2024, the benefits scheme was strongly influenced by the fact that the benefits were originally designed for victims of the Second World War in the early 1950s. The revised legislation on social compensation was recodified in the Book XIV of the Social Code in order to adapt the state's assistance systems to today's situation and to better meet the needs of victims of violent offences. As a result of the reforms, victims of human trafficking and psychological violence will receive more, better customised benefits.
The UN Special Rapporteur praised the fact that the situation of children is also being given greater consideration. This applies, for example, to the trauma outpatient centres and case management.
The new act specifies that people who have been victims of psychological violence can now also seek help. The rapid assistance services enable those affected to receive support quickly with no red tape. This applies to the trauma outpatient centres, for example, and is therefore more closely in line with the needs of those entitled to benefits.
The work of the UN Special Rapporteur helps to give children better protection – in Germany and around the world. Ms Mama Fatima Singhateh is very excited to see "how these very good arrangements can be implemented in practice".