A recent survey reveals that one in six students in Denmark report experiencing physical or psychological violence at home within the past year, according to an analysis by Børns Vilkår (Children’s Welfare). This alarming statistic underscores the ongoing challenge of child abuse in the country, despite efforts to combat it.

The survey, based on responses from 1,410 eighth-grade students nationwide, indicates that 16 percent have been subjected to physical violence by a parent, stepparent, or foster parent, while 17 percent have experienced psychological violence.

Notably, 37 percent of the students who reported experiencing violence have not disclosed it to anyone. Rasmus Kjeldahl, director of Børns Vilkår, suggests this silence stems from fear of consequences, shame, or concerns about the impact on their families. Students also indicated that they refrained from sharing because they did not think it was necessary, that they would like to forget the violence, or that it is too difficult to talk about.

While Kjeldahl acknowledges the worrying prevalence of violence, he points out a decrease compared to the 2022 analysis, where 22 percent reported physical violence and 23 percent reported psychological violence. “I perceive the drop in the number as a consequence of the increased focus that has been on the area in recent years, but there is still a long way to go,” he stated.

Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard (S) recognizes the issue as a significant problem in Danish society, admitting that not enough has been done to address it. “We don’t talk about it enough, and we must be honest to admit that we haven’t done enough about the problem either,” he said.

To combat this, Børns Vilkår recommends providing children with information about their rights in school, enhancing professionals’ ability to identify signs of abuse, and increasing systematic efforts by municipalities. Kjeldahl stated that Børns Vilkår has urged the government to come up with an action plan.

The Minister of Justice has indicated that more political measures are forthcoming. “It was only a few weeks ago that I announced that we had now allocated a double-digit million amount to improve the detection of violence by expanding forensic examinations,” Hummelgaard stated, adding, “In addition, in the new criminal reform, we have proposed to increase the punishment for violence against children.” He assures that additional initiatives will be launched soon to tackle the widespread violence against children in Denmark.