Children have rights – but in many cases they are unaware of them. The German Children's Association (Deutscher Kinderverein e.V.) is drawing attention to this fact and calling for more education: ‘Children are still not being taught enough about their rights,’ says Rainer Rettinger, managing director of the association. ‘Even educational professionals in schools, daycare centres and youth welfare offices are sometimes barely informed about them.’

The child protection organisation has now teamed up with the DIALOGBILD agency to develop an illustration that provides clear and concise information and explains fundamental rights in an understandable way. Although the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child cannot be enforced in court, the prohibition of physical punishment and emotional abuse is enshrined in law (Section 1631 of the German Civil Code), Children are also guaranteed the right to information and participation (Section 8 (1) SGB VIII) and to confidential counselling in emergency situations (Section 8 (3) SGB VIII). In addition, every child has the right to be taken into care without giving reasons (Section 42 SGB VIII).

It must be understood as part of the educational mandate not to treat violence and sexual abuse as taboo subjects, but to openly label them as wrong and punishable offences, and to talk to children about them," says Rainer Rettinger. This is precisely where the dialog picture comes in with its clear visual language.