Balance sheet before retirement

Advocate for young people: much achieved, much to do

After 24 years as Tyrol's Children and Youth Advocate, Elisabeth Harasser (center) presented the Kija's balance sheet for the last time on Tuesday with Simone Altenberger (left) and Vivien Riedl.

(Bild: Kija Tirol)

Children's and Youth Advocate Elisabeth Harasser took stock of the years 2022 and 2023 before her retirement. The Children's and Youth Advocacy Office (Kija) recorded 8290 contacts during this time. There is enough to do.

It was Elisabeth Harasser's last press conference on Tuesday. After 24 years as Tyrol's child and youth welfare officer, she is retiring. Beforehand, she took stock once again: "It takes a lot of patience to get things done," was her initial summary.

Reduce out-of-home placements, strengthen work
Harasser has positive memories of the implementation of school social work and process support, for example, as well as the success in providing children with confidants in disciplinary proceedings. "A lot has happened, but there is still a lot to do." For example, children and young people still feel that they are not being heard by politicians. And too many minors - there were 857 in Tyrol in 2022 - are being accommodated by others. Preventative work is needed here.

Tyrol's child and youth advocate Elisabeth Harasser

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer Kronenzeitung)

Harasser also believes it is important to raise the profile of people who work with young people. "This is often not recognized as real work." The fact that career changers and soldiers have recently been sought for schools reinforces this, criticizes Harasser: "It suggests that anyone can do it." In general, she calls for comprehensive school reform.

21 cases in which teachers committed misconduct
The issue of school is also present in the Kija's counseling services. In the balance sheet, 92 cases were recorded in which someone contacted them with school problems. 21 of these concerned problems - some of them serious - with teachers. The Kija is calling for more action to be taken here, but emphasizes that these are isolated cases.

We don't have to say that young people are our future. They are our present and they need help now.

Elisabeth Harasser, Kinder- und Jugendanwältin Tirol

Mandatory child protection concepts called for
Social worker Vivien Riedl put forward another demand: Child protection concepts should in future be mandatory for all facilities where children are cared for. In fact, childcare facilities must submit a concept by September 2024 that defines risks and prescribes appropriate measures.

The Kija would also like to see this for schools and extracurricular facilities that work with children, such as sports and cultural clubs. However, support is needed when developing the concepts.