2005 IID-INTERNATIONAL: Annual Activities Report
2005 IID-INTERNATIONAL: Annual Activities Report
IID is an International association for the fight against pedophilia
(Germany, France, Switzerland, USA/Northern America)
Introduction to IID-International
Website: www.innocenceendanger.org" www.innocenceendanger.org
USA Website: : www.innocenceindanger.com
Innocence In Danger is an international foundation which:
aims at protecting children against every form of abuse and sexual exploitation.
has been created on the initiative of the UNESCO by Frederico Mayor, who, in 1999, gave the presidency of this "citizen movement" to Homayra Sellier. Today, it is an International Non Governmental Organization (INGO) fighting against pedophilia in France, Germany, Switzerland and USA.
is active in a large number of countries trough partnerships with other NGOs that share the same goals and have the same mission.
° has a permanent goal of proposing concrete solutions to support the victims and to fight against the pedophilia rings. For that, IID carries the main activities presented in the following table with 3 great poles of action (regularly using experts in each field):
Innocence In Danger is mainly active in 4 countries : Germany, France, Switzerland and the United States. Here are their annual activity reports:
2005 Annual activity report Innocence In Danger Germany
Our intensive work aiming at establishing an international and national network allowed Innocence In Danger Germany to be able to move forward and to work some projects out among which the:
N.I.N.A. 01805 – 1234 65
National Office for Information and Prevention, Networking Agency on Sexual Abuse of Girls and Boys (National Bureau of Information and Prevention, Network Agency against sexual assaults against girls and boys)
Cooperation with the national network « Bundesverein zur Prävention von Missbrauch an Mädchen und Jungen e.V. »
(German organization for the prevention of sexual assaults against girls and boys)
During the short period of 11 months, we have been able to open the national telephone number against sexual assaults on February 1st 2005 with an important press conference and the support of German actresses and directors. The film has been broadcast on many television channels and the results have been extremely positive!
Since its beginning, N.I.N.A. has received 170 calls per month, and this number would grow easily if more allotted slots were available for the victims to call. For now, N.I.N.A. is open for four hours, three times a week, on four lines. Mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grand-parents, professors and educational staff call to have information and most of them report a case. Almost 15% of all calls come from parents who want to report pornographic websites to the Authorities or who are worried that their children have doubtful chat friends.
They can also have pieces of information on the home page of N.I.N.A. or by email. For now, N.I.N.A. receives around twenty emails per month and offer pieces of advice this way.
In July and August 2005, a huge campaign with 3000 posters (!) in Berlin allowed to aware a large public. During that time, almost 80% of the calls were made from Berlin, and the only fact that it was during the summer holidays allowed N.I.N.A. to manage the calls.
It highlighted to what point the necessity of such an offer was important and that it would be more than necessary to establish such campaigns in other German cities to reach more people and to offer them the help they need.
It is all about financing, raising money and finding sponsors.
Prevention on the Internet - cooperation with LYCOS:
Host of the most important chat community in Europe, LYCOS aims at protecting children when they use the Internet. LYCOS and Innocence in Danger Germany got closer to unite their strength. LYCOS uses its platform to aware the public of the work of Innocence in Danger and N.I.N.A. , of the concrete project that have been realized, and of the chat rules for the children, teenagers and adults - what is called the "Chatiquette".
Awareness - Press:
The press conference on N.I.N.A. has been a success and the media cover of the charity gala of Hardenberg-Concept for Innocence in Danger was received by the public. Moreover, three press releases made the public aware of the work of Innocence in Danger.
3/3/05 Berliner Zeitung, page 3, 2/3 of the cover on N.I.N.A. with a portrait of Julia v. Weiler
4/19/05 Woman-Magazin, Julia v. Weiler has been nominated for the « hero » prize for her commitment in N.I.N.A.
11/11/05 Funkuhr (number 45), Julia v. Weiler has been nominated « Women of the year 2005 » for her commitment in N.I.N.A.
Post traumatic reconstruction: Chalet of Rossiniere
For two years now, Innocence in Danger has invited traumatized children and their protective parents to spend a nice week in the Grand Chalet of Rossiniere in Switzerland. The aim is to allow them finding new ways to live their lives and with the help of artists and teachers, even maybe finding new ways of dealing with their traumatic experiences.
In 2005, for the first time a German mother and her two children came with Julia v. Weiler as the main psychologist for them.
During this week, the two children and their mother had time to take distance with the difficulty of their everyday life. The drawing lessons, writing, photography, video, puppets, horse riding, Yoga and Tai Chi, with the beauty and the safety of the site maybe gave them the strength to deal with their painful past.
Famous artists like Wim and Donata Wenders offered their time, their commitment, their hearts and their wisdom to these children and parents to support them.
Back in Germany, the return process and the sequels of the trip have been observed carefully in order to understand if and how this mother and her two children had drawn benefice from the trip in Rossiniere and to observe the changes.
For the future, we hope that it will be possible to invite more German families to this international project of Innocence in Danger.
Be there for the victims (specific attention of certain cases)
Only very difficult cases have been and still are followed by Julia v. Weiler for Innocence in Danger. Because she works for "Kind in Duesseldorf" she deals with many cases everyday.
The media cover of the charity gala gave a young woman the strength to contact Innocence in Danger Germany. It is a dramatic situation that forced her to hide throughout Europe and she is now under the protection of Innocence in Danger.
Attendance to international conferences:
Sept. 11. – 14/2005 ISPCAN (International Society against Child Abuse and Neglect) Conference in Berlin: 500 people from the entire world. Introduction to the international network of Innocence in Danger
Sept. 23. – 24/2005 CNASTI (Confederação Nacional de Acção Sobre Trabalho Infantil) in Ofir/Esposende, Portugal: European conference against child trafficking. Introduction to the international network of Innocence in Danger
Oct. 10. – 11/2005 UBS Optimus Foundation: Best PRACTICE Symposium in Wolfsberg, Switzerland: International conference about sexual abuse. Discussions with many famous experts, particularly with David Finkelhor, an American scientist who has conducted studies on the subject since the early 70's.
Empirical study about care and treatment for child and adolescent victims of child pornographic exploitation (CPE) in Germany.
(Support from „Aktion Mensch" – from October 2004 to September 2007)
This study has begun in 2004. During the first months, the surveys (1 and 2) have been created and the appropriate recipients were evaluated. These surveys have been sent by mail but they are also available online at the German website.
Professor Renate Soellner, who teaches the evaluation and the management of quality at the free Berlin University accepted to take care of the scientific and statistic treatment of the study.
The beginning - survey 1:
In order to obtain a first status quo on the question of the cure and the support to the children victim of child pornography in Germany, it has been decided to contact all the organizations offering a psychological help to the children and teenagers.
The survey 1 dealt with relevant quantitative information (i.e.: How often did your institution have to deal with the question of child pornographic exploitation? How many advice meetings were dedicated to the victims? How old were the cured victims? Were those victims boys or girls? What type of staff works in this institution? Etc.)
National mailing:
Every specialized advisement centers specialized in the fight against sexual assaults on children and teenagers (258),
The psychotherapists working with children and teenagers and having a additional training in treating traumas (59) or having a centralized approach of the patient (110) and
The clinics specialized in psychiatric cares to children and teenagers (157).
Survey 1:
At the beginning of May 2005, 584 institutions were contacted by mail. Among those, 164 participated to the study and sent it back (29.54%).
Short overview of the data collected by survey 1:
All federal states of Germany participated.
139 of those 164 institutions (87.67%) stated that in the past 5 years, they had "no" or only "few" contacts with children who were victims of child pornography exploitation.
24 institutions (14.63%) stated that in the past 5 years, they had "some" or "many" contacts with children who were victims of child pornography exploitation.
Overall, care and treatment was reported for 387 girls and 97 boys who were concerned in the past 5 years (2000 - 2005).
Survey 2 and in depth interview:
The other survey 2, much more detailed and mailed at the professionals who have an experience in supporting the children and teenagers victims of child pornography exploitation. In this case, the main focus was the quality of the work with the victims, in comparison with other clinical disorders (of personality).
79 professionals from 40 institutions accepted to answer this survey. 31 surveys have been sent back and are being treated (37.97%).
At this point in time already 3 institutions have accepted to participate to a thorough interview that should take place in 2006.
Outlines and outlook:
It is now obvious that most professionals and even those who had no personal experience in the treatment of those cases are really interested by the results of the study. Some regretted not to have the experience needed in this type of cases, others whished to red again their statistics, and others wondered why they had not met any victims to this day. They all had a common point: they whished to be informed of the results of the study.
Outlook:
- Analysis of data collected with survey 2,
- Elaboration, realization and treatment of the thorough interviews,
- Contacting the authorities to inform them of the results of the study and to collaborate with them,
- Contacting the international organizations who are dealing with these problems in order to associate their experience with the results of the survey,
- Finding ways to contact teenagers victims of children pornography exploitation and to interview them on their hopes, needs and whishes for care and support.
At the moment plans for an interdisciplinary conference in 2007 - in cooperation with several partners: 1. Bundesverein zur Prävention, 2. Kind in Duesseldorf (diagnosis center for children victims of abuse) and 3. University of Münster - are being made. Goal is to introduce the preliminary results and discuss them with a wide varitey of experts.
Support of Innocence in Danger e.V.:
Once again, Innocence in Danger was happy to be given considerable support and generous donations without whom this work could not have been possible.
To name two fabulous events that took place in Germany:
For the third time, Countess Isa von Hardenberg instigated a charity gala for Innocence in Danger. July 1st, Homayra Sellier and Countess Hardenberg welcomed 500 famous guests, of all nationalities, at the Orangery of Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin.
Under the high patronage of the First lady of Germany, Eva Luise Köhler, everyone could be informed of the activities of Innocence In Danger in Germany and internationally. The main focus was on the awareness and the need for funds in order to continue the good work of N.I.N.A..
And for the first time this year, the "new" generation followed the example of Countess Hardenberg and on July 2nd, 300 international guests have listened, made donations and danced on the first (of many we hope) "IID Night" in Berlin Mitte.
2005 Annual activity report: Innocence in danger USA
Created in 2004, Innocence in Danger USA obtained the status of tax exemption in the USA in February 2005. Our headquarters are in Soho in New York.
Mr. Rory Cutaia, lawyer and chairman of a large communication company - "Telx"- has been appointed Chairman by Mrs. Homayra Sellier .
Our launching and information campaign is carried out by the Saatchi & Saatchi agency - USA, its elaboration began in 2005 for a broadcast in 2006 (TV spot , posters, postcards, artistic works...)
Last November in New York, IID received a prize for its action fighting against child trafficking.
IED-USA, will carry out in a first step: the help, following, and support to the children victims of sexual abuse and to their protective parents.
In that purpose, we work with other NGOs defending the children which allow us to identify the victims and their needs.
Since February 2006, we have been in contact with 8 children whose cases are in court.
Homayra Sellier met the protective parents with the inspectors and social workers and she goes regularly to the USA to spend time with the children and their parents before welcoming them in Rossinière (Switzerland) this summer for our workshops which rely on art, culture, sports and nature.
Moreover, IID's actions were introduced twice by the chairman at the White House in February and May 2006 and resulted in a keen interest.
IID-USA worked on a website which will communicate on all our actions in the country and will be a link to our main website.
Our projects for 2006 are focused on the launch of an awareness campaign in schools on sexual abuse against children (and particularly on the Internet).
Northern America-NA
In January 2005, Innocence in Danger expanded its activity in Northern America under the control of the USA Chairman, Rory J. Cutaia.
Its first mission is to offer children victims of pedophilia and their families a post traumatic reconstruction program and a specific support in education and legal steps in the United States and in Canada.
INNOCENCE IN DANGER – Northern America (IID-NA) is a Non Governmental Organization under the 501 code of the American Government.
Immediately after its creation, IID-NA (helped by the Saatchi&Saatchi communication agency, partner of IID) launched a strong awareness campaign provoking the American audience so it could react against the atrocity and the width of the sexual abuse against children phenomenon in their own country (examples of this campaign are at "http://www.innocenceindanger.com" www.innocenceindanger.com.
TV spots and a new communication, with a more explicit and implying logo, came with this awareness and mobilization step (the website collecting the funds and allowing to get mobilized for IID-NA directly). This campaign really insisted on the emergency of the situation and the necessity for all to act.
The launch of IID-NA was on April 5, 2006 in New York and introduced this slogan to the guests of this launching event : "Within a year, 500 000 American children will have been victim of sexual abuse unless we decide to act now and together!". The press took a lot of interest with this launching and the public was very interested in the cause defended by IID-NA.
Other patrons support IID-NA, like the Overture Outreach Foundation, which organized a charity evening on May, 3 2006 in New York and will organize another one under the patronage of the Princess Race in the Hamptons on August 5.
The programs of IID-NA are focused on the reconstruction of the victim children through trips allowing them to find tutors with horse therapy for example. IID-NA is a partner of the « SAfe Horizon » NGO specialized in the ill-treatment of children and which recommend the IID-NA programs to those children and their family. In summer 2006, some of those children will go to the Chalet de Rossinière in Switzerland to benefit from the post traumatic reconstruction program that IID has managed for several years. IID-NA would like to create this type of centers in the United States and in Canada.
The 2 principles of priority action of IID-NA:
∑ Principle 1 :
Inform, educate and aware the public to the width of the problem and to its perversity.
Provoke in a constructive way to develop strong and efficient means in the fight against pedophiles.
∑ Principle 2 :
Identify the traumatized children - we don't call them victims - and offer them concrete solutions in time based on the strength phenomenon.
Innocence in Danger Switzerland
This year, IID Switzerland has once more welcomed 22 children and 2 adults survivors of sexual abuse at the Chalet de Rossinière for work sessions named Baku. The parents of the children were present and many childhood experts participated and managed the sessions, so as many artists who came to support the children.
Our mission consists in assuring assistance and help to the victims of sexual abuse, in a medical and psychological point of view, whether or not their case has been recognized by justice. Strength and reconstruction are the essential words of those trips.
Those sessions take place during school holidays and are managed by qualified supervisors who can if necessary act in an appropriate way towards these hurt children or adults.
Through Art, sport and cultural programs, the victim human being can conceive a rebirth and a way to get over his trauma. With their courage and the benevolence of the experts who are with them, these children, despite years of trauma and/or legal procedure, can foresee a better future.
Experts, pedopsychiatrists and psychologists are unanimous on the importance of that love, of that taste for life that can emerge from those moments in life that experiment happiness and pleasure: this is why the Zen masters stress the importance of music, poetry, singing, drawing and all the disciplines allying focusing and action that are two pillars of the development of our senses and of human being. This is why IID launched this Baku program in Rossinière in 2003 and continues to let a maximum children benefit from it every year. The sessions are varied and cover different fields: drawing, photography, calligraphy, tai-chi, yoga, horse riding, theatre - supervised by qualified artists and professionals.
We would like to thank Countess Setsuko Klossowska de Rola and Harumi who, in addition to welcoming us in their chalet, allowed us to attend a U2 concert with the children in July 2005; Bono welcomed us in person and supports us in our action. We would like to also thank Wim Wanders and his wife, Donata to realized photos and films last summer that will be used to aware the public and encourage this experience and program.
Our summer program for Summer 2006 at Rossinière:
- invite and welcome victim children from European countries in July
- invite and welcome in August American victim children with their parents
- like every year there will also be a Christmas session
Transparency :
IID is controlled by a senior auditor and by renowned auditors who verify and attest of our actions and accounts to the Swiss Confederation (as it is the case in every country IID is present).
Our expenditures are reduced to the minimum since we have the chance to count on many volunteers who allow us to keep the number of 95% of the funds being given directly to the support and help programs to the victims.
Report IID International 2005
"http://www.innocenceedanger.org" www.innocenceendanger.org
∑ Coordinate efficient actions that could be lead with organizations concerned with the fight.
Innovate in the protection and promotion of Children's Rights
Develop partnerships with other NGOs worldwide to increase the efficiency and the number of actions carried out for the victim children and aware the public
∑ Advise the child and his family on legal, medical or psychological steps.
Help the child for a long time,
with financial and psychological support so that he can find his strength.
Offer concrete and tested solutions for post traumatic reconstruction: centers dealing with the global reconstruction of the child
Collaborate with specialists to permanently increase the efficiency of care.
†
∑ Actions of communication to the public
Raising funds for projects carried out towards individuals, companies or governmental institutions
Mobilization of decision makers to make the laws and behavior change
Aware of the danger of risk situations like Internet
Collaborate with major actors of the fight against pedophilia
∑ Innovate and
Coordinate
∑ Caring and
Helping
∑ Aware and
Mobilize
