Our children – our responsibility. What can we each do to prevent child sexual abuse?
Preventing child sexual abuse is not the responsibility of just one institution, profession or family. In order to create a safe environment for children, timely and coordinated action is needed at various levels – in the family, school, sports, local government, digital environment, religious communities, child protection and law enforcement institutions. We are increasingly aware that responding after the offense is not enough, we need more knowledge based on real data, courage to talk about complex topics and practical solutions that help prevent sexual abuse before it happens.
The conference will bring together Latvian and foreign experts and professionals to look at the prevention of child sexual abuse in a broader perspective – from prevailing perceptions in society to the challenges of the digital environment, understanding children’s sexual behavior, effective response and specific action in every environment where children are present.
Our goal: to strengthen a common understanding of the prevention of child sexual abuse as a shared responsibility of the entire society and to encourage everyone – professionals, organizations and communities – to take concrete, practical steps to strengthen child safety.
Location: National Library of Latvia, Ziedonis Hall
Registration: will open soon
9.30-9.45 Conference opening
- Agnese Sladzevska, Board Member, “Centrs Dardedze”
- Nina Hvid Enevoldsen, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia
9.50-10.05 What needs to happen so we could talk. Ruta Rinkule
10.10-10.30 Not the child’s fault. Krista Mozere, State Probation Service
10.35-11.15 Holistic prevention of child sexual abuse. Anna Ovaska, “Protect Children”, Finland
11.20-11.40 Family digital safety: Latest trends and challenges of the AI era. Jana Orlova, Drossinternets.lv
11.40-12.30 Coffee break
12.30-13.15 A different narrative about child sexual abuse. Sean Coughlan, “To Zero”, Ireland
13.20-13.40 Understand before reacting: the traffic light for assessing children’s sexual behaviour. Inga Eizengrauda, Child Protection Centre
13.45-14.05 But what can be done then? How can schools respond safely and effectively to harmful sexual behaviour. Zane Linde-Ozola, University of Latvia
14.10-14.30 How are the boundaries of the law changing? Baiba Balode, “Bērna māja”
14.30-15.00 Coffee break
15.00 – 15:20 How can we know that what we are doing is really working? Lucy Gleave, United Kingdom
15:25-16.05 One thing we did and you can do too:
- In the family: Anda Avena and Ilze Sirmā, Centrs Dardedze
- In school: Lauma Tuča, Edurio and Inese Štekele, Riga City Council
- In sports: Ilvars Koscinkevičs, Latvian Football Federation
- Church: Toms Priedoliņš, Catholic Church of Latvia
- In the municipality: Dace Zorgenberga (Saldus), Elita Lecko
- Support for the child and parent: Janeta Bokaldere, Bērna māja
16.05-16.15 Closing