27/09/2007

Event To Discuss Female Sex Offenders

Women convicted of sexually abusing children is the top of a major conference being held in Dublin on Thursday.

The Cari organisation, which provides psychotherapy to children, families and groups affected by child sexual abuse, is holding the conference, entitled 'The Last Taboo - Women who sexually abuse against children' at the Carlton Hotel.

A Cari statement said: "Although society has begun to recognise that child sexual abuse is widespread, the possibility that sexual abuse of children could be perpetrated by women is hardly acknowledged.

"While statistically a small group, it is likely to be seriously under-reported. Suppressing or avoiding discussion and acknowledgement of sexual abuse by females has prevented people disclosing whether for fear of not being believed or taken seriously."

The conference will address this issue and discuss current policies and provisions in the UK and Ireland within the child protection and criminal justice system. It will also give an insight into working with, assessing and treating female offenders.

(KMcA)

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