German commission calls for testimony from survivors with disabilities

The Independent Federal Commission for the Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse has launched a campaign titled ‘Open to your story’ to specifically reach out to people with disabilities. The initiative aims to encourage survivors of sexualized violence experienced during childhood or youth to share their experiences.

Additionally, the commission is calling on witnesses, such as employees from integration assistance facilities, to report their observations. The commission noted that children and adolescents with disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing sexualized violence due to power imbalances created by dependencies on support and care services.

The goal of the campaign is to understand the conditions and structures that allowed abuse to occur and to identify why such violence was often concealed. The findings are intended to help improve protection mechanisms for children and adolescents with disabilities. The commission has provided various barrier-free ways for individuals to contact them and share their stories.