XN000022-1987-10-17 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1987

CHILD ABUSE CONFERENCE ORGANISED

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THE FIRST-EVER MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON CHILD ABUSE IN HONG KONG WILL BE HELD IN DECEMBER TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE BETWEEN VARIOUS PROFESSIONS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF BUCH ABUSE AND IN HELPING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IN CO-OPERATION WITH AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. LADY WILSON WILL BE THE PATRON.

REGISTRATION FORMS, TOGETHER WITH COPIES OF POSTERS PUBLICISING THE EVENT, HAVE BEEN SENT TO INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS.

A TOTAL OF 200 PLACES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS WHO WILL COME FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL, TEACHING, LEGAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELDS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE CONFERENCE SAID: "THE HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE CASES IS BOTH COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING, CALLING FOR MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CO-OPERATION."

A NUMBER OF DISCIPLINES INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKERS, DOCTORS, NURSES, TEACHERS, CHILD CARE WORKERS, LAWYERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND POLICE OFFICERS, WERE USUALLY INVOLVED, HE SAID.

"IN ORDER TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE SERVICES, THEY MUST BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE PRACTICAL AND UP-TO-DATE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.

"IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TOWARDS THE PREVENTION OF THE PROBLEM, HE ADDED.

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"THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE AIMS AT ENABLING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES TO ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE

AREA OF IDENTIFICATION, MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE.

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"IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS SHARE THEIR INSIGHT INTO DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE AREA OF CHILD ABUSE, THUS ENHANCING UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THEM IN DEALING WITH SUCH CASES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE CONFERENCE, WITH "COMBATING CHILD ABUSE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESPONSIBILITY" AS ITS THEME, WILL BE HELD BETWEEN DECEMBER 14 AND 18 AT THE LADY TRENCH AUDITORIUM OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.

THE PROGRAMME CONSISTS OF PLENARY SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS. DISTINGUISHED LOCAL AND OVERSEAS PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONFERENCE CAN BE MADE ΤΟ THE CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT ON 5-282124, EXT. 38.

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