NEWS
Our Specialist, Eva Díaz Bethencourt, shares her experience participating in the Third International and Interdisciplinary Congress of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
From October 3 to 6, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Third International and Interdisciplinary Congress of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy “THINK ABOUT YOUth!” held in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This congress, organised by BHIDAPA, brought together leading experts, advocates, and practitioners dedicated to addressing critical issues pertaining to the mental health and well-being of children, youth and their families.
During the congress, I had the honour of taking part in the roundtable “Why Survivors Stay Silent and Suffer in Silence”, organised by the Justice Initiative in cooperation with Protect Children and Brave Movement. This roundtable aimed to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of the psychological challenges faced by those who have survived childhood sexual abuse. I presented insights from our Global Our Voice Survivor Survey, highlighting key findings from responses in Croatian, Serbian, and Slovenian.
The Our Voice survey, supported by the Justice Initiative, is directed at individuals over the age of 18 who have been subjected to sexual violence in childhood. The Our Voice survey amplifies the voices of survivors of sexual violence in childhood. It is crucial that the voices and wisdom of all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation are heard, and that we do our utmost to strengthen child protection measures and victims’ and survivors’ rights.
A highlight of this event was the SHAME European Stories Exhibition. This powerful exhibition showcases the work of award-winning journalist Simone Padovani, who has interviewed and photographed nearly 100 survivors of childhood sexual violence across Europe as part of the European Justice Initiative.
This exhibition also contributes to amplifying the voices of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and reveals the scale of sexual violence against children in a way that's never been done before.
The congress created a special space where experts from various fields could come together and connect. I was inspired by the engaging discussions and collaborative efforts that took place. The plenary lectures, engaging roundtables and workshops, and thought-provoking panels led to insightful conversations, and revealed new perspectives into the importance of global preventive plans and integrative therapeutic approaches to child protection.
One of the most significant conclusions of this congress was the emphasis among experts on the crucial importance of multisectoral collaboration in fostering a society that prioritises the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families. At Protect Children, we believe collaboration is key for effective crime prevention. Engaging stakeholders from various sectors, including health, social, and legal professionals, is vital for developing comprehensive approaches to prevent and end all forms of sexual violence against children.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this transformative event and look forward to applying the insights gained into our ongoing efforts at Protect Children. Huge thank you to Jovanka Lazarevic - Toscanelli, Hub Director Justice Initiative Balkans, for the invitation, and to BHIDAPA for organising this important and successful congress.
Let us continue to work together to better #protectchildren, and to build a world in which all children can live and enjoy a childhood free from any type of violence.
Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Specialist at Protect Children