Help is available," adds the advertisement broadcast on
German television and over the internet, urging people who feel sexually
attracted to children to join a unique therapy programme called "Don't
offend" (Kein Taeter werden).
Launched some 11 years ago, the largely publicly funded project by
Berlin's top university hospital Charite calls on paedophiles to undertake a
treatment that helps them control their urges.
More than 7 000 people have sought information on the programme
which is offered in 11 centres across Germany.
Of these, 659 people have undertaken the therapy, with 251
completing the entire programme. Another 265 are currently being given
treatment either in group or individual sessions.
This initiative is unique because it deals with potential sex
criminals, or those who have already committed abuses but have managed to
escape justice.
Other programmes deal with convicted paedophiles who have also
been issued specific orders to seek medical care.
Klaus Beier, who leads the prevention network as well as Charite's
sexual medicine institute, has no illusions about the programme.
"Paedophilia is not curable," he said.
"But it can be treated," he added, stressing that
"a paedophile can learn to control his urges".
The project is grounded on the principle that sexual attraction to
children is a medical problem, and as Beier said, "not a crime" until
the urge is acted upon.
The World Health Organisation too classifies paedophilia as a
"sexual preference disorder".
The patient is taught to develop strategies to
stop himself from acting on his tendencies or from consuming child pornography.
The programme also helps the patient to acquire a level of empathy
toward potential victims, which could go toward dissuading him from hurting
them.
The patient can choose to remain anonymous throughout the
treatment, even with his therapist, and at the end of the programme, he can
request follow-ups.
Medical help, such as chemical castration, is also offered on a
voluntary basis.
Scientists from around the world including countries in North
America as well as Switzerland and India, have been watching the project with
interest.
"In France, we are still at the starting point on creating a
programme that is similar to Germany's," said a psychiatrist at France's
health and medical research institute Inserm, Serge Stoleru.
He said the response from authorities had been that
"paedophilia is a tricky subject".
But even in Germany, one of the countries scarred by a massive
paedophile priest scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, the therapy programme
is controversial.
Source:
news24
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