Violence against pre-school children

This report deals with the practice and barriers to discovering and reporting violence against pre-school children. The report is based on 22 qualitative interviews with professionals working within the fields of daycare, health and social services.
Among other things, the survey shows that many of the professionals often hesitate to notify their discovery as it might make their relationship with the parents of the child more difficult and thus prevent a dialogue about the well-being of the child. It is considered a general problem that so far legislation has prevented the reporting person from being informed about the consequences of his or her action. Also the duty of confidentiality across sectors and between institutions is considered a barrier to early discovery. With the Child Reform (“Barnets Reform”), which entered into force on 1 January 2011, some of these problems will be solved.
The survey also shows that professionals do not feel equipped to track down violence, and that they can be uncertain as to what it even means to make a report.