Event puts focus on child sex abuse

Aug 14 2008 by Margaret Shaw, Hamilton Advertiser

SOUTH Lanarkshire’s Child Protection Committee this week unveiled a programme of events aimed at raising awareness of child sexual abuse.

They include seminars and courses exploring issues ranging from domestic abuse and its links with sexual abuse to child trafficking.

Many of the events are open to members of the community as well as employees of the council and partner agencies, but places must be booked in advance.

About 100 people are expected to attend the launch event at the Town House in Hamilton on Tuesday, September 2. On the theme of learning from experience, it aims to increase participants’ understanding of the effects of this form of abuse. Among the speakers will be Maggie Tierney, head of child protection policy at the Scottish Government, and Christine, a survivor of abuse, with her adult daughter Kirsty who will explain how it has affected their lives.

A morning seminar in the Town House on September 3 will provide an insight into the issue of human trafficking of adults, young people and children and the complexities faced by the police in investigating these cases.

Rape and sexual abuse - the myths and facts, will be explored in a full day’s training event led by Rape Crisis in the Voluntary Sector Support Centre at 155 Montrose Crescent, Hamilton, on September 8.

Employees and volunteers who would like some basic awareness of the nature, extent and effect of sexual abuse on children and adult survivors may be interested in a Basic Awareness course hosted in the Hamilton Disability Forum all day on September 11.

On September 16 there will be a lunchtime lecture in Montrose House, Hamilton, for staff in the council and partner agencies on managing the risks associated with children and young people who have problematic sexual behaviour.

Doorway, the South Lanarkshire Domestic Abuse Partnership, will host a morning session on domestic abuse and its links to sexual abuse in the Corporate Dining Room at the council’s offices in Almada Street, Hamilton, on September 18.

On September 19 at the Town House, there will be a full day workshop on the links between substance use and sexual abuse, led by Joyce Nicholson of Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol, and Rena McCarry, lead officer of the South Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee.

A lunchtime lecture in Montrose House on Wednesday, September 24, aims to raise awareness of Mappa - the Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements who review the risks posed by sexual offenders in the community.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, please phone 01698 454213 for an application form or e-mail amy.brown@southlanarkshire.gov.uk