Academic Monitoring of the Implementation of the Evaluation Results in the Protection of Minors System

After the Hans-Bredow-Institut carried out the research-based evaluation of the Protection of Young Persons Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Human Dignity and the Protection of Minors in Broadcasting and in Telemedia and prepared the content for the roundtable discussion “Jugendschutzgesetz – Verbesserung des gesetzlichen Vollzugs” [Youth Protection Act – Improvement of the legal enforcement] in November 2007, the Federal Government and the States collaborated to optimise performance in both areas. The crash programme of the Federal Minister for Youth and of the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister for Youth as well as the suggestions discussed at the round table pointed first steps along a path towards application.

The ensuing project for monitoring the implementation of the results from the evaluation of the protection of minors provided a research-based monitoring of the political discussion on the basis of the results from the evaluation and the round table and to coordinate the application of the results in cooperation with the Federal Government and the States. Alongside the coordinating measures, the project’s activities involved consultation and assessment regarding various conditions governing application, for instance, as regards practical problems in introducing cash register systems with warning functions or the training and level of knowledge of retailing staff. Alongside this, the options for an improved monitoring of enforcement were worked out and discussed with the involved parties.

Against the background of discussions in academic, political and social spheres on the protection of minors against harmful media in the area of video and computer games, the Institute also organised the European symposium: “More Fun, More Risk? Video- und Computerspiele als Herausforderung für den Jugendschutz” [Video and Computer Games as a Challenge to the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media] on 16/17 October 2008 in Berlin, which aimed at a Europe-wide exchange taking place on the current status of research as well as on best-practice-models in media-pedagogy and in regulation.

Furthermore, the Institute supported the campaign "Jugendschutz: Wir halten uns daran!" ["Protection of Minors: We stick to it!"] of the Federal Minstry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the Federal working group for protection of children and adolescents (BAJ). The flyer is also available in Turkish.