XVIIth ISPCAN International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect
September 7-10, 2008
Hong Kong SAR, China Towards a Caring and Non-Violent Community:
A Child's Perspective Hosted by:
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  Dr. David Finkelhor (USA)Lessons from the Decline in Child Maltreatment in the USA Various forms of child maltreatment and child victimization have declined in the United States as much as 30-60% from 1993 until 2006, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, sexual assault, child victim homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and property crime. At the same time, other child welfare indicators have also improved during the same period, including teen pregnancy, teen suicide, and children living in poverty. This talk will evaluate a wide variety of possible explanations for these changes. Multiple factors probably contributed. In particular, economic prosperity, increasing agents of social intervention and improved prevention and intervention strategies including increased use of psychiatric drugs all have features to recommend them as possible explanations. The talk will review evidence for similar improvements from other countries, as well. It may be too early to draw conclusive implications, but the experience in the United States raises many important issues for child abuse and neglect professionals, among them:
Dr. David Finkelhor He is well known for his conceptual and empirical work on the problem of child sexual abuse, reflected in publications such as Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse (Sage, 1986) and Nursery Crimes (Sage, 1988). He has also written about child homicide, missing and abducted children, children exposed to domestic and peer violence and other forms of family violence. In his recent work, he has tried to unify and integrate knowledge about all the diverse forms of child victimization in a field he has termed Developmental Victimology. He is editor and author of 11 books and over 150 journal articles and book chapters. He has received grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the US Department of Justice, and a variety of other sources. In 1994, he was given the Distinguished Child Abuse Professional Award by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and in 2004 he was given the Significant Achievement Award from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.  Prof. Michael Freeman (UK)Can We Eliminate Child Abuse If We Allow Children To Be Corporally Punished? This presentation will examine the contours of child abuse, and where corporal chastisement of children fits. It will examine defences of punishment (including religious foundations), rhetoric of those who defend the practice and the (unintended) sexual association. Solutions including abolishing the defence of lawful chastisement, now adopted by nearly 20 countries, and half-way houses, such as the recent English ‘solution’, will be examined. Reference will be made to the many notorious cases where abuse is the result of punishment gone wrong. The presentation will endeavour to demonstrate the impossibility of drawing a clear line between abuse and punishment. It will conclude by reasserting freedom from punishment to be a child’s human right. Professor Michael Freeman Professor Freeman has been a chair professor at the University College, University of London since 1984. He is the founding editor of International Journal of Children's Rights and is considered as a guru in children's rights in the legal field. His interest on children's rights began in the early 1970s, for his active role in a social campaign called STOP in 1973, calling for a halt of corporal punishment in UK schools. He also opposed such punishment at home and advanced the concept of "reasonable chastisement". His major contribution could be said as introducing an interdisciplinary field of child law, not only as a sub branch of family law but firmly anchoring it as core issue in children's rights, childcare policy, child abuse, criminal justice, employment, delinquency and war torn regions. In particular, in recent years, his writings are centered on what constitutes "the best interests of the child" and how to reflect child's perspective in law. He is an eloquent and articulate speaker. One piece of evidence is that he was awarded the best teacher award in 2003. His recent books include Children's Health and Children's Rights (2006), A Commentary on the UN Convention, A Commentary on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 3, and The Best Interests of the Child (2007).  Dr. Cindy Kiro (New Zealand)Children’s’ Voices: the Role of Children’s Commissioners in Advocating for Children Children’s Commissioners (or Ombudsmen) have increased in number since Norway established theirs in 1976 and New Zealand in 1989. Since then a number of European countries have gone on to establish such an institution, as a means of ensuring an effective voice for children in their country. Federal countries often have state or province based positions. There are differences between these and national positions. There are also many differences between various Commissioners, especially around their jurisdiction and degree of independence. This presentation will explain the New Zealand model, but also draw on the experience of other countries to contrast how Commissioners play a part in addressing child protection and promoting healthy child development within our countries. The presenter will identify how it is possible to promote crosssectoral solutions to child abuse and neglect from the advantage of being an independent office with access to the political, bureaucratic, community based and professional sectors. A number of examples of advocacy will be provided, highlighting both the opportunities and limitations of such institutions. The presenter will examine these in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and identify the role an office such as the Children’s Commissioner plays in respect holding States accountable on the Convention. The presence of a child and youth specific human rights institution is an important contributor to having children’s voices heard within the policy and professional domains that shaped the lives of children. I will examine how this can happen. Dr. Cindy KiroDr. Cindy Kiro was appointed Commissioner for Children in New Zealand on 1 September 2003 for five years. Dr. Kiro has a PhD in Social Policy and has worked mainly in the area of public health and advocacy for children and young people. She has worked as a social worker, researcher and manager. Advocating for children and advancing the interests and rights of children and young people, ensuring they are treated with respect, dignity and fairness, is the main focus of the work of the Children’s Commissioner. Key issues such as stopping violence against children, child poverty and promoting the rights of children and young people are an important focus of the Commissioner’s work. Dr. Kiro continues to work to bring together a cohesive and effective children’s movement in New Zealand, recognizing the contribution of Government, non-government organizations and community organizations, Iwi, Maori and Pasifika organizations, young people’s networks and government agencies to addressing key problems like child poverty and violence against children.  Mrs. Priscilla Lui Tsang Sun Kai (Hong Kong SAR, China)Is Prevention a Feasible Option in Child Protection? There is an encouraging body of evidence to support the notion that violence and childhood injuries are preventable. However, it requires the government to exercise a strong leadership in the formulation of forward- looking child policies; to allocate adequate resources ensuring that competent personnel and effective mechanisms are in place and to mobilize the entire community to turn prevention into a feasible option. It is often observed that Hong Kong with a lopsided emphasis on the creation of wealth and economic prosperity has been acquiring a reactive rather than proactive approach, often times 8 responding to traumatic child abuse and neglect cases and crisis circumstances in the community. Hong Kong needs to go beyond a predominantly materialistic emphasis and must seek to improve the quality of life for children and family in a truly holistic sense. It is through the removal of these inhibitive destructive forces or hurdles that a nurturing environment will be provided to the child to grow to his/her full potential. This presentation will trace the important milestones in child protection, examine the strengths and weaknesses of the child protection strategy in Hong Kong, highlighting the trends, characteristics, achievements attained and hurdles encountered in the last few decades. To ensure a genuine child perspective, the presentation will underscore the need to critically examine certain traditional family values and child rearing practices and to debate the role of legislation in child protection. The author also looks at issues such as the over-emphasis on adult’s rights and lack of genuine consultation in policy formulation which hampers participation and partnership in the community. It is only when a society is determined to move away from a reactive mentality and devote necessary resources to a strategic and comprehensive plan of action will prevention cease to be a mere slogan and become a viable solution! Mrs. Priscilla Lui Tsang Sun KaiMrs. Priscilla Lui Tsang Sun Kai has been the administrator in 1979 and the director of the Against Child Abuse, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, since 1983. Priscilla has been involved, in addition to managing the agency and supervising her team, in advocacy of a child’s perspective in the community and ensuring children are seen and heard in policies, practices, resource allocation and education. She works closely with the mass media and serves on the Government Committee on Child Abuse and many NGO committees. Priscilla has conducted different trainings and has contributed to conferences locally and overseas. Special area of concern include the formation of a Child Commission in Hong Kong, the review of child related legislation to ensure the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is being thoroughly actualized, defending the rights of children left unattended and corporal punishment and humiliating management approaches. Priscilla Lui was awarded the Tenth Outstanding Young Persons Award in 1990, the HKSAR Bronze Bauhinia Star Award in 2000, the Award of Outstanding Community Service Leaders in 2001, and the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Distinguished Service Award in 2006. She obtained her Masters in Social Work from the University of Hong Kong in 1982 and her Diploma in Sociology from the Baptist University (then Baptist College) in 1974. Priscilla is married with two children, Pierre and Petra.  Prof. Xu Yong Xiang (China)Insufficient Community Participation: A Sense of Child Protection in Mainland China In order to understand child protection concerns in Mainland China, one has to review them against the macro background of the transition of the social system and function of the government. Along with the rapid development of the market economy and population mobility, the problem arose of a massive number of children as beggars. Some died as a consequence of abuse, some are being controlled and manipulated by adults or sinister gangsters. Despite the fact that China has announced improvements in child protection law and regulations, the management of such child begging phenomena has been ineffective. The main reasons behind this situation have been the breaking up of the originally unilateral system and the fact that the pace of the government's social management function is not catching up with the rapid changes. Furthermore, the maturation of the civic society has also been slow, and the society in itself lacks motivation and organization ability to cope with such changes. The shortcomings of the current social system are the core of the problem, and the two major factors contributing to such shortcomings are the insufficient social participation and the slow progress in reforming the function of the government. This is a unique challenge of the process of modernization of Mainland China. Therefore, the sustainable development of child protection in Mainland China depends on the reformation of the social system, the social function of the government and the healthy development of non- governmental organizations. Prof. Xu Yong XiangProfessor Xu is Vice President of the National Social Work Specialist Council of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in China. Professor is also Vice-Chair of China Social Work Education Association, Chairman of Shanghai Sociology Society, Board Chairman of the Council of Shanghai ZiQiang Social Services, Dean of the Society & Public Management Institute, Dean of Applied Sociology Research Institute as well as Dean and Professor at the College of Social and Public Administration, East China University of Science and Technology. His major research area is “Reform of Social Management System and the Development of NGOs: Theory and Application of Social Work Theory. Professor Xu has published more than 70 theses in newspapers and in various formats in China. His most recent publication is "Theory in Community Development".  Dr. Richard Krugman (USA)Henry Kempe Lecturer Richard Krugman , M.D., is Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Dean of the School of Medicine, and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado, Denver, as well as President of University Physicians, Inc., the CU School of Medicine faculty practice plan . From 1981 to 1992, he also served as Director of the C. Henry Kempe National Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. Dr. Krugman is a graduate of Princeton University and New York University’s School of Medicine. A board-certified pediatrician, he did his internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Krugman has been author or co-author of 58 reviews, chapters, and symposia; 38 original papers, 22 editorials and commentaries, and 10 books, including four editions of the Review of Pediatrics and the fifth edition of The Battered Child. He also has been Associate Editor (1982-1984), Co-Editor-in-Chief (1984-1986), and Editor-in-Chief (1987-2002) of Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal., as well as President-elect (1990-1992) and President (1992- 1994) of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
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