A recent survey conducted by Børns Vilkår (Children’s Conditions) indicates that one in six students in Denmark have experienced either physical or psychological violence at home within the past year. The analysis, based on questionnaire responses from 1,410 eighth-grade students nationwide, highlights the concerning prevalence of violence against children.

Specifically, 16 percent of the surveyed children reported experiencing physical violence from a parent, step-parent, or foster parent. Furthermore, 17 percent reported being subjected to psychological violence.

The survey also revealed that 37 percent of the students who experienced violence have not disclosed it to anyone. Rasmus Kjeldahl, director of Børns Vilkår, suggests this silence may stem from fear of consequences, shame, or concerns about the family’s well-being. Students themselves cited reasons such as the belief that it was unnecessary to report, a desire to forget the violence, or the difficulty of discussing it.

While Kjeldahl acknowledges the high numbers are worrying, he notes a decrease since the 2022 analysis, where 22 percent reported physical violence and 23 percent reported psychological violence. He attributes this decrease to increased focus on the issue in recent years but emphasizes that “there is still a long way to go.” He stated that the current numbers are unacceptably high for a developed society like Denmark, where hitting children has been illegal for over 25 years.

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.

To combat this, Børns Vilkår recommends educating children about their rights in schools, enhancing professionals’ ability to identify signs of problems, and implementing greater, systematic efforts by municipalities. The organization has urged the government to develop an action plan.

Hummelgaard agrees that more political action is needed. He mentioned the recent allocation of funds to improve violence detection through expanded forensic medical examinations and the proposed tightening of penalties for violence against children in the new criminal reform. He added that further initiatives will be launched soon to tackle the widespread violence against children in Denmark.