A total of 150 professionals working in the area of care and protection of children and adolescents on the island of Lanzarote have received specialized training aimed at preventing, detecting and acting on situations of abuse and sexual violence against the child and youth population, through the conference 'Detection and comprehensive action against sexual violence against children and adolescents in contexts of high vulnerability', which took place this Friday in the assembly hall of the Island Council of Lanzarote.
“Through these conferences, which have been held during the months of May and June, the aim is to provide the group of professionals working in child and youth care and protection with the tools that allow them to prevent, detect and act against abuse and sexual violence of which our children and adolescents may be victims”, said the general director of Child and Family Protection, Juana de la Rosa González, who highlighted the importance of this training initiative, “since it will allow staff working with children and young people to have the necessary knowledge not only to act in cases of sexual violence but also to avoid their re-victimization.”
For his part, the island councilor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marciano Acuña, has argued the "need" for this training for staff working with vulnerable children, adding that he is "concerned" about the increase in assaults. “Data on sexual assaults in the Canary Islands and Lanzarote have increased drastically by 105%, with 39 cases registered on the island.” And he explained that in collaboration with the Government of the Canary Islands, “we are designing a protection and awareness plan to try to prevent them from entering networks, trafficking, manipulation and becoming victims of sexual violence.”
The training program is based on the analysis of the legal framework set out in Organic Law 8/2021, of June 4, on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence (LOPIVI) regarding violence and sexual exploitation. In addition, it addresses the resources and knowledge to detect sexual violence against children and adolescents through indicators; promotes the prevention of sexual violence in children and adolescents, through affective-sexual education and the promotion of communication with this group; raises awareness of guidelines for action in the event of suspicion and delves into coordination with specialized resources in intervention in cases of suspected sexual violence against children and adolescents.
The training initiative, which is being developed by the Department of Welfare in collaboration with the Márgenes y Vínculos Foundation, is free of charge and has already been held on the islands of Fuerteventura, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. In the coming dates it is planned to be held in El Hierro, on June 28, and in La Gomera, on July 4.
Those interested in attending these conferences can register at the link on the website of the Government of the Canary Islands.
