by Dorte Rievers Bindslev, Ministry of Social Affairs, Denmark
Report from the seminar on Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Baltic Sea Region, Gdansk, 19 and 20 June 2000
Ministry of Social Affairs East European Aid Section September 2000 File: 484-11
Issues concerned with children at risk have in recent years gained an ever higher priority in activities of the Baltic Sea States. On the political level Heads of Government have pinpointed their concern and agreed to intensify common efforts. At the meeting in Kolding, Denmark, in April this year their concern was again underlined. Background and context for the seminar: ·ð The CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Mr. Ole Espersen, in 1997 published a survey on Implementation on Certain Rights of the Child. In the survey the Commissioner also touched upon the widespread problem of sexual abuse of children in the Baltic Sea Region. ·ð In 1997 it was decided at the Meeting of Foreign Ministers within the Council of the Baltic Sea States to start co-operation on the problem, and a special working group under the Council of the Baltic Sea States (WGDI) was directed to prepare a report with recommendations and proposals for co-operation projects between the Council's member states. The working group's recommendations include seminars based on information and knowledge concerning children's rights. The purpose of the seminars is to increase awareness of sexual exploitation among relevant decision-makers, law enforcers and professionals. ·ð At the meeting for Heads of Government in Riga in January 1998 it was agreed to strengthen the efforts against commercial sexual exploitation of children in the Baltic Sea Region. ·ð Further to recommendations based on the aforementioned report the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs offered in 1998 to hold locally based seminars for staff who deal with sexually exploited children in their daily work with a view to contributing Danish experience on interdisciplinary and intersectorial efforts in respect of the child, the family and the abuser. ·ð In October 1998 the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs held a seminar in Riga in co-operation with the Latvian Centre for Children's Rights. In the summer of 1999 a similar seminar was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in co-operation with the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labour. ·ð Sweden, Norway and Estonia in September 1998 hosted a conference in Tallinn on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The conference supported a stronger regional collaboration on the issue but it was also argued to broaden the mandate in order to include children at risk in the regional collaboration. ·ð In January 1999 the Swedish Minister for Social Affairs set up a special group for children at risk in the Baltic Sea Region. Since March 1999 the group -in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry for Children and Family Affairs - has worked on a project that involves the IT-technology in the development of the existing co-operation concerning children at risk. ·ð Sweden and Norway obtained further support for the project at the meeting for Heads of Governments in Palanga in June 99 and at the meeting of CBBS Council of Senior Officials in Reykjavik i May 99. ·ð Sweden since then has worked to create a still broader understanding for the project. It has now been defined as the creation of a network that will allow all actors in the area to work through an IT network based on the internet and which will provide a virtual meeting place or centre for children´s issues and a forum for dialogue, a database with basic documentation, channels for consultation etc. 7 existing childcentres in the region will be provided with the proper equipment and through that be able to promote the collaboration in the region on children´s issues. The virtual meeting place will also contain special meetingplaces for ngoés, children and parents, the press and citizens who want information on children at risk. ·ð At the meeting in Moscow on February 17, 2000 in the CBSS´ WGDI it was decided that: 1) The issue of the Rights of the Child in the Baltic Sea region was very important. 2) Children at risk constituted the most vulnerable segment of the population, and that WGDI would continue to monitor the state of affairs in this field. 3) National representations would be submitted by all delegations in electronic form and used in the IT network on Children at Risk developed by Sweden and Norway. 4) The WGDI welcomed the Swedish initiative to host an ad hoc meeting in Stockholm in March, 2000. The purpose of the meeting would include preparing suggestions regarding priorities for future initiatives on Children at Risk, drawing on the experience gained in the member states. It would also offer an opportunity for national delegations to present their specifik requests for assistance. Organisers of the meeting would report back to the WGDI on its outcome. ·ð At the meeting in Stockholm 16-17 of March 2000 with the participation of all Baltic Sea memberstates it became clear that there was political support from all members to continue the work for children at risk. From most donor-countries approval was given to support the Child Centre for Children at Risk in the Baltic Sea Region, and all countries supported a Swedish application for the EU STOP-Programme for support of implementation of the Child Centre. ·ð The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs - at the meeting in Stockholm - was asked to chair an ad-hoc working-group that will look at the priorities for the continued work on children´s issues after the Meeting of Heads of Government in Kolding in April. Representatives from Sweden, Norway, Latvia and Denmark met in Copenhagen on May 12, 2000 and prepared this paper. ·ð The paper was confirmed in Oslo in June at a meeting in the Reference Group responsible for children at risk in the Baltic Sea States. ·ð The priorities were submitted to the Council of Baltic Sea States meeting in Oslo in June where consequently the Council instructed the CSO and the WGDI to support the Reference Group in its efforts to enforce a co-ordinated and multidiciplinary approach towards children at risk in the Baltic Sea region. ·ð Furthermore work on the Social Initiative has revealed that sexually exploited children account for a large proportion of the socially threatened and excluded children who are one of the initiative's target groups. It is also against this background that the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs applied to the Social Initiative for funds to accommodate a request from the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs for a seminar. The Danish seminars in general attract much attention in the various Baltic fora because they - so far - are the only activity that - so to speak - get close to the very important issue of awareness-raising and qualifying the efforts among professionals who in their daily working life meet the abused children. The seminar in Gdansk: The seminar was planned and carried through in co-operation with the School of Social Work in Gdansk, who had been suggested by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in Warzaw. Participants The seminar took place at the School of Social Work in Gdansk. 80 people had signed up for the seminar though only 64 showed up. The participants in the seminar were selected and invited by the School of Social Work in Gdansk. Professionally the participants represented general practitioners, primary health nurses, police/juvenile police, teachers, school psychologists, school doctors, child protection specialists, social workers, kindergartens, psychologists/psychiatrists, pediatricians, pedagoques from various places in Poland. Present were also representatives from the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the local government, the local administration, the local courts and the police. Students from the school sat in on the lectures and some were active in the workshops. Denmark was represented by Susanne Freund, child psychologist and superviser from the County of Aarhus and assistant professor in law Beth Grothe-Nielsen from the University of Aarhus, Oskar Plougmand, advisory officer with the Children´s and Family Office of the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs, and Dorte Rievers Bindslev, senior adviser with the East European Aid Section of the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs. Content The program had been decided by the School of Social Work who had also arranged with a number of Polish experts in the field. The intention was to create an active seminar, and therefore the programme was a mix between speeches and group-discussions. See enclosure number 1. From Polish side, dr. Krystina Kmiecik-Baran opened the seminar with a very critical speach: She claimed that ·ð between 10 and 30 pct of all children in Poland have been sexually abused ·ð abuse happens in families, in schools, at friends places - in fact friends of the family and relatives create the greatest danger to the children. Abuse performed by family and friends is often neglected, because the child is not believed in or the child doesn´t want to harm the family ·ð children abuse children ·ð abusers are yesterdays victims ·ð the help towards victims is uncoordinated and therefore many cases of abuse are neglected ·ð the help offered to the victims is un-professional - especially when offered by ngoés ·ð there is a general fright against seeing the signs of abuse, to report cases of abuse to the police ·ð it is common to be afraid of being attacked and beat up by the abuser in case you report the abuse because your name will be known to the abuser ·ð the police and the procecutor do not cooperate with each other or with psychologists ·ð children are damaged by physical examinations following the abuse The general procecutor, Ireneusz Tomaszewski, informed about the rather severe penalties for sexual assault against children: ·ð Intercourse with a child up to 15 years of age is sentenced to 1 -10 years in prison, and if the perpetrator is violent the punishment is up to 11 years. ·ð Distribution of pornography is subject to punishment ·ð Forcing somebody to prostitution gives up to 10 years in prison The General Procecutor also made a point of stressing that the court system looks upon these cases with gravity and that it is up to the general public to make their influence on the procecutors: ·ð the public must demand a strong reaction towards all kinds of pathologies ·ð the procecutors must perform their duty to intervene ·ð the cooperation between the social authorities and the court system must be improved Psychologist Susanne Freund informed about her work at the Counselling Centre in the county of Aarhus. Municipalities in the county refer children and families to the centre in cases of sexual abuse. The centre is staffed by 9 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists and 6 social workers. All cases are approached in the same way: An analyzis is made of the family (what kind of family is it and what kind of personalities do each of the family members have ?) Not until this analyzis is completed a plan for treatment or therapy is worked out for each of the family members. Each family member has his or her own therapist and experience from the Centre in Aarhus shows that cases of abuse are longlasting and extremely ressource demanding. Susanne Freund also offered information about a fairly new approach to families where abuse has taken place. Based on the experience that a child does not necessarily get better if the abusive parent is removed from the home, phychologists now look at the personalities of each family member. In essence that means that the victim and the perpetrator both have the personalities of victim/perpetrator and the other parent also has this dual personality. If this parents dominating personality is that of an abuser he/she will not be able to attend to the needs of the child. Assistant professor in law, Beth Grothe Nielsen, informed about the Danish penalty systems approach to cases about sexual abuse. She also introduced some new considerations about punishment in cases of sexual abuse. It is acknowledged that punishment in these cases do not have much effect, because abusers have problems that are not solved by punishment. And in cases where a father has abused his child, putting the father in prison can be very disstressing and damaging to the child. Therefore a general need for new solutions is very present. Evaluation - Feed back from participants The participants were asked to give their feed-back on basis of an evaluation form with 5 questions. 25 out of 64 turned in their evaluation forms. Please see enclosure number 2. The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs has the following conclusions: The seminar in Gdansk professionally was of high standard on both sides. The Danish law expert as well as the psychologist presented the latest Danish information to the participants which formed an excellent basis for engaged discussions about similarities and differences between the Polish and the Danish systems of law and juridical practise - as well as on the approaches in treatment of abused children and the concept of understanding the psychological patterns behind abuse. Like in Denmark the actual number of children who have been sexually abused is not known - but one unofficial estimate says that up to 30 pct of all children in Poland have been abused. This has to be researched more closely. 30 pct. is an excessively high number, and like in Denmark - and all other countries - numbers depend on who is asked and how they are asked. A conclusion of the seminar is that professionals in Poland and Denmark struggle with many of the same problems. Although the Polish therapeutic system has a diagnostic/psychiatric versus the Danish psychological way of approach - and the Polish law gives harder punishment for sexual abuse of children than the Danish system - there seems to be both expertise and good will to build on. The seminar was conducted in a good and engaging atmosphere - the participants were very interested in the professional presentations and in the discussions with the experts and the authorities. And the opportunity for professionals to meet other professionals and exchange experiences was clearly a major benefit of the seminar. Follow-up These are the main challenges for the future work in this field in Poland: ·ð Since punishment is not the proper way of curing sexual perpetrators, there is a wish from Polish side to learn more about treatment of perpetrators. ·ð Occupation in this field is a low-status occupation (like in Denmark) - therefore there is a great need in Poland for more education of psychologists who want to work with perpetrators. ·ð There is a need for long-lasting treatment of the abused children, the family and the perpetrator. Since most cases of sexual abuse of children takes place in the family (by parents, grandparents, friends of the family ...) there is a great need to know more about preventive work and work with the family after the abuse has been known. Also because abuse can run in the family , work with the family is essential. ·ð More training of professionals - all over the country but especially in the small towns and in rural districts is highly needed. ·ð A much better coordination of intersectorial efforts is needed in Poland. Often cases of sexual abuse are not dealt with because the proper authorities do not take responsibility to co-ordinate the efforts among them. ·ð There is a need to establish systems that can offer immediate help to the victims of abuse. ·ð There is a need to establish co-operation between the police/the procecutor and the psychologist, who are involved in a case. ·ð The courtsystem adds much further harm to the abused child - this must be changed. ·ð The social impact on a family where the breadwinner is put in prison because of sexual abuse of his (her) child has a great impact not only on the social situation in the family but also on the childs further development. There is a need to improve the social services given to the family. ·ð More research is needed in the field of sexual abuse of children ·ð Regarding seminars on the topic: An issue for follow-up seminars would clearly be work-shops on how-to - e.i. concrete knowledge on working methods are urgently demanded among those working with abused children. Enclosure # 1: Programme for the seminar. Ministry of Social Affairs Gdansk School of Social Work - Denmark - Poland Seminar on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Poland Gdansk, June 19. and 20., 2000 June 19th: 09.00 09.15 Opening of the seminar by Ms. Dorte Rievers Bindslev, Special Adviser Ministry of Social Affairs Denmark, and Antoni Szymanski - member of Parliament 09.15 09.45 Sexual abuse of children The situation in Denmark: Mr. Oskar Plougmand, consultant, Ministy of Social Affairs, Denmark The situation in Poland: Dr hab. Krystyna Kmiecik Baran, University of Gdansk 09.45 11.00 Lecture Ms. Susanne Freund, clinical psychologist and specialist in child psychology and supervision. The county of Aarhus. Diagnosing sexual abuse of children : Signals of sexual abuse; The ways of reading them; Who can read the signs ? What impact does sexual abuse have on the child and on society? Questions to the experts discussion in plenum 11.00 11.30 Break coffee and tea 11.30 12.30 Lecture by Ms. Beth Grothe Nielsen, Assistant professor, LL.M., Ph.D., Department of Procedural and Criminal Science, Institute of Law, University of Aarhus. The Danish system . Legislation, cooperation between the different parties involved (police, doctors, the court, the social system ) . 12.30 12.45 Discussion in plenum . 12.45 13.15 Report activity of judicature in the lawsuits connected to sexual abuse of children Ireneusz Tomaszewski, General Prosecu- tor 13.15 14.30 Break and dinner 14.30 15.30 Lecture by Susanne Freund, clinical psychologist and child specialist and Master Maria Keller, Foundation Nobody s children Warsaw What kind of help is offered to the abused child ? : Interdisciplinary efforts towards the child and the family after the abuse has been recognized. 15.30 15.45 Discussion in plenum questions to the experts 15.45-16.00 Break coffee and tea 16.00 17.00 Workshops ( 3 groups ) Helping behaviors in contact with a victim of sexual abuse, what should we do ? phenomenon of repeated victimization I group Assistant professor Krystyna Kmiecik-Baran, Psychology, University of Gdansk and Danish specialist in law, Beth Grothe Nielsen, University of Aarhus II group Master Maria Keller, Foundation Nobody s children Warsaw and Danish specialist in child psychology Susanne Freund, Aarhus County III group Kjersti Holden, Norway, Specialist in Children Rights Protection Center in Gdansk and Oskar Plougmand, Consultant, Ministry of Social Affairs, Denmark 17.00 17.45 Discussion in plenum 19.00 Supper 20th June 09.00 10.15 Lecture by specialist in child psycology, Susanne Freund, Denmark and Dr. Beata-Jordan - Towarzystwo Rozwoju Rodziny What is the impact of sexual abuse on a child regarding the childs further development ( socially, psychologically, psychically ). Discussion in plenum 10.15 10.30 Break coffee and tea 10.30 12.00 Workshops ( three groups in the same way as the day before ! ) Work on cases prepared by Polish experts as examples of sexual abuse of children: Analysis of cases in point of diagnosing the signals of abuse ; Taking up definite operations in the aim of verification and making good diagnoses and good strategies. I group Master Edyta Kolodziej Szmid Specialist in Center of Crisis Intervention in Gdansk and Danish specialist in law, Beth Grothe Nielsen, University of Aarhus II group Master Maria Keller, Foundation Nobody s children Warsaw and Danish specialist in child psychology, Susanne Freund, Aarhus County III group Dr. Med. Grazyna Rymaszewska, Head of Children and Young People from alcoholic families Centre Oskar Plougmand, Ministry of Social Affairs, Denmark 12.00 12.15 Break coffee and tea 12.15 13.00 NGOs other Danish solutions concerning efforts against sexual abuse of children - by Danish experts 13.00 14.00 Discussion in plenum with a part of press and Danish and Polish experts: Sexual abused children help system in Poland ways of handling problems in the future 14.00 14.15 Closing of the seminar by Mr. Oscar Plougmand Ministry of Social Affairs , Denmark and Mr. Janusz Erenc - Director of Department of Social Welfare. Enclosure # 2: 1: Your opinion of the seminar as a whole: Very good Of medium quality Bad -------- 2: What did you think of the professional contents of the seminar - in general: -------- Very good Of medium quality Bad 3: Did you hear/ learn something at the seminar, that you kan use in your daily work? Yes Maybe No 4: If you were satisfied about the seminar, what then did you like the most ? 5: What did you miss hearing about ? 6: Anything else you would like to express: Answers to question 1: On a scale from 10 to 0 2 gave a 5 2 gave a 6 3 gave a 7 9 gave an 8 5 gave a 9 4 gave a 10 Answers to question 2: On a scale from 10 to 0 1 gave a 5 1 gave a 6 5 gave a 7 4 gave an 8 7 gave a 9 7 gave a 10 Answers to question 3: On a scale from 10 to 0 1 gave a 3 6 gave a 6 4 gave an 7 2 gave a 8 3 gave a 9 9 gave a 10 Answers to question 4: (liked the most) Exchange of observations and experiences - different views on victims and offenders problems. The new (interdisciplinary) approach to the problems The useful information put forward by the Danish experts Appreciation of the information on how the Danish system is organized around the victim. Susanne Freund lectures were interesting and well prepared. And so were other lectures as well. The personality-profiles (victimpersonality and abuserpersonality) in abusive families was very interesting - new and very useful. A good way of communication information. Answers to question 5: (missed hearing about) More time should have been spent on workshops Workshops on how to build social help systems - how to deal with obstacles from the local authorities. A chance to exchange experiences wiht the Danish experts. A separate lecture on therapy for sexually abused children. Information about concrete working-methods, methods of analysis and methods of diagnozing. More step-by-step how to do - concrete solutions. More positive Polish experiences. A list of contact-persons, who work with crisis-intervention connected to sexual abuse. As a professional - working with this issue - how do you handle your own emotions. Concrete Polish ways of helping the victim/the child. Where was the police ? Answers to question 6: (general comments) Better interpretation ! Thank you ! More workshops ! Breakes too short ! A good opportunity to exchange views ! More time for professional discussions ! It is very good that specialists from different professional groups had the opportunity to get together to share experiences and to get new informations. There should have been more examples from real life. The Polish system, that is supposed to help the child, does not work. Why organize semininars like this ?: To help, to show ways, to listen to people who have experience, to learn !
