Thu 17th November, 2011
University of Bedfordshire child exploitation expert Sue Jago was part of a group of professionals invited to speak at an important conference held by CROP - the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping.
The conference was called ‘Telling the Truth about Child Sexual Exploitation’ and Tim Loughton, Children’s Minister, was the keynote speaker.
Founded in 1996 and driven by the experiences and needs of affected parents, CROP is the only UK organisation to specialise in working alongside the parents, carers and wider family of child sexual exploitation victims.
The conference brought together affected parents, practitioners, policy-makers and the public to address the issues which inhibit truth telling, and truth hearing, about child sexual exploitation.
Its aim was to share perspectives, principles and practice, and challenge misconceptions, myths and mainstream stereotyping.
The event has been held ahead of the launch of the Government’s Action Plan. It is also timely given the announcement to commence an Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG), and the Conference coincided with recently released figures based on limited reporting data suggesting that up to 10,000 children may be affected by sexual exploitation.
Sue, Project Leader in the Gathering Evidence team of the University’s Applied Social Studies Department, said: “This was an important conference at an important time, focusing as it does on the actual experiences of young people and their parents and the way in which local partnerships respond to child sexual exploitation.
“Many of those experiences reflected the findings in the recently published research report on What’s Going On to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation, funded by Comic Relief and carried out by the Institute of Applied Social Research at the University of Bedfordshire.
“The research found that three quarters of local safeguarding children boards are not delivering a strategy to address child sexual exploitation and that awareness of the issue is low and training piecemeal. For young people and their parents, like those supported by CROP, it is crucial that every area of the country ensures that child protection includes protecting teenagers from this form of child abuse and bringing their abusers to justice.”
To find out more visit www.cropuk.org.uk
Latest news» 2011» November» Uni child exploitation expert joins cream of the CROP
