Child abuse Counseling services for pedophiles are useful despite gaps
Specialized, low-threshold counselling services for paedophiles in Switzerland help to protect children from sexual assault. The services have developed further. Nevertheless, there are gaps, wrote the Federal Council in a report that has been acknowledged.
09.04.2025, 10:57
SDA
The report was compiled by the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO). It shows that people with a sexual interest in children are under great psychological pressure. Even if they do not give in to their urges, they are often psychologically distressed and socially isolated.
This increases the risk of violations against the sexual integrity of children. This is where preventative measures come in, as the Federal Council wrote on Wednesday.
Counseling and therapy services are available for prevention - including anonymous counseling online or over the phone. If necessary, the offices refer those seeking advice to specialized therapy services or therapists in private practice.
In the current report, the FSIO noted that the prevention services have continued to develop, but also that there is a lack of services in Italian-speaking Switzerland. Meanwhile, there are still cantons and regions in other parts of the country without any services. The professional associations responsible for the further training of psychologists and the Swiss Institute for Continuing Medical Education and Training play an important role, the FSIO added.
In 2020, the Federal Council highlighted the importance of prevention services for paedophiles for the first time and decided to provide financial support for regional language counselling. At the same time, it initiated reporting until 2025. The FSIO financially supports the two regional language services "Beforemore" and "Dis no". However, it is the sole responsibility of the cantons to ensure that there are sufficient therapy centers.
