Let’s talk about porn

The national symposium is entitled: “Consider this - a National Conversation on Pornography protecting children from the harmful effects of pornography.” The two-day symposium, aimed at highlighting the harmful effects of pornography on children, is one of a series of events initiated by the archdiocese in response to concerns over children’s ease of access to pornography and the resulting damage to healthy neurological and sexual development. the archdiocese finds news reports in the newspapers and on television of the sale of pornographic DVD’s to school-aged children on the streets, the production of pornographic videos by children very troubling, so too the reports of sexual abuse perpetrated on and sometimes by children, said event c-oordinator Charmion Lee WingGomes,

To highlight these harmful effects of pornography on children at the event will be people working at the forefront of this effort globally. among those who will be present are Dr Donald Hilton, a neurosurgeon and researcher from the University of Texas, Dr Mary Ann Layden, the director of sexual trauma and Psychopathology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr Sharon Cooper, a Developmental and Forensic Paediatrician and adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina.

She’s also a researcher and has presented before the US Congress on the matter of child sexual abuse, specifically as it relates to pornography. Gomes told Newsday the international team will join local psychologists Dr Dianne Douglas and Dr Saaran Looby who will represent the Children’s authority of TT.

WPC Candy Saunders from the Police service’s Cyber Crime Division and Cpl Lioba Duncan of the Child Protection Unit will also be present, so too will Dawn Hawkins, VP and executive director of the National Centre for exploitation in the US who will be speaking on some of the successes her organisation has experienced as a result of their efforts.

Sunnetta “Sunny” Slaughter, a consultant for Homeland security and an expert in the field of human trafficking will be connecting the dots between pornography and human trafficking. Clay Olsen, co-founder and CEO of Fight the New Drug will give a youthful perspective on the most effective ways to engage youth and young adults in a discussion about pornography.

Gomes said: “During the breakout sessions on day two, we’ll hear from two former pornography abusers/addicts who will share their stories with the participants in a session entitled recovery and Healing: Perspectives from those Who Have struggled. We’ll also have sessions focused specifically on addressing pornography as a public health crisis and the development and enforcement of policy. these sessions are mainly for the medical fraternity and for those who affect policy but other participants are encouraged to attend. “Finally, there are sessions geared for parents, principals, other teachers and other leaders who interact with and inspire children. the sessions will address ways that we can dialogue with children in order to assist them in making the best possible decisions.”