Save the Children Denmark, the IWF and INHOPE attended the Marie Collins Foundation’s International Conference and workshops in London from June 22nd-23rd 2017. The theme of the conference was ‘From Discovery to Recovery – Online Sexual Abuse of Children.’ Delegates included social workers, internet industry, police, teachers, midwives, victims, partners, and parents.

Workshops conducted during the conference were expert-led and are summarised below:

1. This session looked at how one of the programmes, which has engaged with arrested offenders, partners and other family members since 2005, provides support.
2. The second workshop aimed to enable all practitioners to develop their skills and knowledge on how to support children, young people and their families affected by online abuse whilst, at the same time, ensuring that the criminal justice response and outcomes are just, proportionate and reflect the experience of the child victim.
3. The final workshop highlighted issues regarding assessment and intervention programmes of children who have experienced or been exposed to a number of forms of abusive activity. In addition, consideration was given to the role of the expert witness in criminal trials where the defendant(s) has been charged with multiple counts of abusive activity that include online abuse of their victims.