Peers pose a large threat

Deutsche Welle: Study shows German students frequently exposed to sexualized violence. “A German study has found that 48 percent of surveyed students aged 14 to 17 have experienced verbal or physical sexual violence. Researchers said that the violence was often carried out by the students’ peers.”

“When presenting the results on Thursday in the city of Wiesbaden, the study’s two main researchers highlighted one of the study’s main takeaways – that fellow students are often the perpetrators.

“The main risk for [perpetuating] sexualized violence are other youths – meaning their peers,” Professors Sabine Maschke and Ludwig Stecher said.

Around 48 percent of the perpetrators of physical sexual violence and 64 percent of those who carried out non-physical violence were “friends” or “classmates” according to the study.

Additionally, students reported that over 50 percent of non-physical sexualized violence occurs at school.”