Psychiatrist Marc Graf has treated many men who sexually abused children. In the interview he explains why people do things like this – and how it can be prevented.
Thousands of children and young people have been sexually abused by representatives of the Protestant Church since 1946, a new report shows. Psychiatrist Marc Graf is not surprised by the high number. The director of the Forensic Clinic at the University of Basel has treated numerous men who have abused children in his long career. Two things promote such acts, says Graf: a strong power imbalance and easy access to children. Then even people who are not actually pedophiles could become perpetrators.