Violence, particularly brutal acts, committed by and against young people continues to be a major source of concern among the general public. These concerns are reflected in the number of motions submitted by members of the Swiss parliament in recent years (Leuthard (03.3298), Amherd (06.3646) and Galladé (07.3665)). In response, the Federal Council announced that one of the goals of its political agenda during the 2007-2011 legislature period will be to examine this problem in depth, with a view to developing a violence prevention strategy directed specifically at young people.
The present report was commissioned following three separate parliamentary motions: Leuthard 03.3298 'Jugendgewalt' (Youth violence); Amherd 06.3646 'Jugendgewalt. Mehr Effizienz und Wirkung in der Prävention (Youth violence: a call for more effective prevention)'; and Galladé 07.3665 'Schutz der Kinder und Jugendlichen vor Gewalt in Unterhaltungsmedien (Protecting children from media violence)'.
In response to these calls, the Federal Council asked the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) to compile a report on youth violence prevention. Given the complexity of this subject, the FSIO decided to entrust the situation analysis and formulation of recommendations to external experts. Their findings would then form the bases of the FSIO report to the Federal Council.
The present expert report has three aims:The report’s key findings and recommendations can be found on pages 34-40.
(c) Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen, CH-3003 Bern