A CHARITY dedicated to helping children and their families recover after online sexual abuse is raising awareness on an international scale after being invited to speak at a global summit.
The Marie Collins Foundation, based in the UK, was invited to take part in #WEProtect, the second Global Summit on Ending Online Child Sexual Exploitation, held in Abu Dhabi.
Lieutenant General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said: “We gather here to work together to find solutions for the issue of child abuse; and in the hope that we will stand as a bulwark against those who attempt to jeopardise the innocence of the world’s children and to undermine their promising future."
He said the aim of the summit was to end the exploitation of children and to pursue relentlessly ways to protect them through one united global entity and unified vision.
“Success hinges on joining forces and collectively working together to create a safe and stable international environment – it cannot be done alone,” he added.
Vicki Green, Director for Training at the Marie Collins Foundation, highlighted the charity's groundbreaking training package, CLICK: Path to Protection, to the international audience.
The charity also announced the establishment of an international network of practitioners where those working with children who have been sexually abused and exploited online can share best practice and work together to improve how professionals respond in such cases.
MCF's innovative approach to intervening when children have been sexually abused and exploited online places the needs of the victims and their families at the centre of any professional involvement in safeguarding children.
It guides professionals in how to assist children and their families from discovery of the online abuse to the recovery of the child victims.
MCF chief executive Tink Palmer explained: "Our unique training model can be applied in countries across the world and the MCF welcomes the opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues from the global community."
Mrs Palmer's second report, Digital Dangers, published earlier this month by MCF and Barnardo's, said that all children are vulnerable to being groomed and sexually exploited on the internet via mobile technology.
The MCF has also announced that it will be hosting its second international conference in London, supported by BT, on June 28, 2016. Anyone interested in attending can register by contacting sarah@frenchandlammingmedia.com
