Sofia, November 17-18, 2017
The Learning Action Partnership (LAP) conducted its first conference „Prevention of sexual violence and sexual exploitation of children is possible” on November 17 and 18, 2017 and thus officially declared its existence in public space. The agenda included presentations, panel discussions with representatives of state institutions and discussion. The topic of sexual exploitation of children was presented and discussed from different aspects, as the aim of organizers and participants was together to look for ways to improve the working coordination mechanism for reaction after cases of sexual exploitation and violence, to exchange good practices, as well to unite their efforts in the name of the cause to reach as a society zero tolerance towards cases of violence and sexual exploitation of children.
As panelists participated two deputy-ministers: of education - Denitza Sacheva and of labor and social policy Rositza Dimitrova; as well the General State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev form the Ministry of Health; the Director of Direction „Child Rights” of Ombudsman of Bulgaria Eva Zhecheva, the International Activities Expert in SACP Radiona Nikova. Prof Maya Grekova from the Department of Sociology in Sofia University with the summary on research „Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence among adolescents in educational boarding schools, social pedagogic boarding schools and other institutions"; the expert in WHO Bulgaria Assocyated. Professor Michail Okoliyski with the European Action Plan of WHO on prevention the maltreatment of children; Dr. Debra Allnock from Bedfordshire University on sexual exploitation of children in Great Britain, presented forming the whole picture on the problem. Special guests at the conference were the Ambassador of Great Britain H. E Mrs. Emma Hopkins with her presentation ‘On Faces of Contemporary Slavery ‘, the Ombudsman of Republic of Bulgaria Mrs. Maya Manolova who addressed the participants, and took part in a vivid discussion, and the consultant from OAK Foundation Jane Warburton. The OAK coordinator Tanya Kovacheva, who passed away the precious day, was mentioned and mourned during the entire event.
Participants in the conference were representatives of LAP, state institutions, incl. regional and schools representatives, experts in institutions and specialists working with children. The event is among the initiatives in the context of European Day for Fighting Sexual Exploitation of Children – 17 November.
Photos and materials - presentation and agenda from the event
LAP is a network for exchanging ideas and is working on prevention of sexual exploitation of children. Unites persons and institutions, interested in and having experience in activities preventing sexual exploitation and violence. LAP is initiated and is realizing as a part of the project of Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) ‘The Art to Inform’.
