Victim protection and civil courage: prevention campaign at Berlin Central Station!”

Victim protection and civil courage: prevention campaign at Berlin Central Station!”

On Friday, September 19, 2025, a prevention campaign on the topic of “Victim Protection and Civil Courage” will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held in front of the main train station at Washingtonplatz in Berlin-Moabit and is aimed at travelers and other interested parties. Several organizations are taking part in the campaign, including the BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe), Deutsche Bahn AG, S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, the Federal Police and the Berlin Police.

The aim of the event is to educate the public about protective measures against crime and harassment in public spaces. Advice is supported by experts from the Charité Berlin's violence protection clinic and the Weisser Ring, who provide information on victim protection services. Further details can be found on the websites of the organizations involved, as reported by Berlin.de.

Important rules for civil courage

A central aim of this campaign is to increase awareness of civil courage. The Federal Police offers six basic rules that enable everyone to act responsibly in critical situations without putting themselves in danger. Among the rules are the following key concepts:

• Regel 1: Helfen, ohne Gefahr zu laufen – aufmerksam sein und nicht wegschauen.
• Regel 2: Andere aktiv zur Mithilfe auffordern.
• Regel 3: Täter-Merkmale genau beobachten.
• Regel 4: Hilfe über den Notruf 110 organisieren.
• Regel 5: Sich um die Opfer kümmern.
• Regel 6: Als Zeuge zur Verfügung stehen.

These rules are part of a larger initiative, which also includes a short film on the “Look instead of walking away” campaign, as the Federal Police have explained in detail (Bundespolizei).

Social responsibility and violence prevention

The discussion about civil courage and victim protection is also becoming increasingly important in the context of violence prevention. At the violence prevention conference “You too! Act instead of staring!” Earlier this year in Vienna, which was carried out by various organizations, similar topics were addressed. Around 320 people were informed about preventative measures and how to deal with violence. The opening speech addressed the responsibility of employers to create a safe working environment and to counteract increasing problems such as violence in the workplace (5min.at).

In particular, the responsibility of each individual to act actively and show moral courage to counteract violence and harassment was emphasized. The analysis of various forms of violence, including psychological stress and stalking, highlights the need for a corporate culture that does not make such topics taboo.

Overall, these initiatives aim to promote a safe and respectful society in which every individual has the opportunity to actively support their fellow human beings and overcome challenges in public spaces.