Child protection: A global responsibility

Dr. Resmiye Oral

Resmiye Oral, professor of pediatrics and director of the Child Protection Program at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, reported that in 2012, 11,637 children in Iowa were substantiated to have been abused and/or neglected, 79 percent of whom were neglected, 9 percent physically abused, 7 percent drug endangered, and 4 percent sexually abused.

In order to increase awareness of several issues related to child protection, Oral has organized the 2014 Provost’s Global Forum at the UI, “Child Protection: A Global Responsibility.” The forum will address the global and local impact of child abuse and neglect through two symposia, a WorldCanvass program, and other events that are free and open to the public March 26-28.

Betul Ulukol took this photo of a young boy named Yusuf in Beypazari, Turkey. Ulukol’s photos will be on display as part of the Provost’s Global Forum March 14-28 in the International Programs’ office at 1111 University Capitol Centre. To learn more about the exhibit or Yusuf’s story, visit here.

The other symposium on Wednesday, March 26, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Hotel Vetro, is dedicated to “Multidisciplinary Response to Child Sexual Abuse,” and will be targeted toward professionals who refer, assess, diagnose, manage, treat, and protect children from child abuse.

The major public symposium, “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Health Implications Through Life” will take place on Wednesday, March 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Hotel Vetro and focuses on how experiences that harm children’s social and behavioral functioning lead to physical and mental health issues in adulthood, such as obesity, depression, and heart disease, among others.

Registration is free and required by Tuesday, March 25 for both symposia at international.uiowa.edu/research/child-protection.

Other public events that don’t require registration are as follows:

• Desmond K. Runyan will present a lecture titled “International Variations in Harsh Child Discipline and Implications for Child Development” on Thursday, March 27, at 1 p.m. in the Ellig Conference Room of the College of Public Health Building. Runyan is executive director of the Kempe Center and the Jack and Viki Thompson Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
• An open media event is scheduled for Friday, March 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the River Room, Iowa Memorial Union, for members of the media to interview forum presenters.
• A WorldCanvass discussion on Friday, March 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol Museum will feature a panel of international guests working in the area of child protection. Joan Kjaer hosts the program, which will be recorded for distribution over UITV, iTunes, YouTube, and the Public Radio Exchange.
• A photography exhibition by Betul Ulukol, professor of social pediatrics at Ankara University School of Medicine, will be on display at the International Programs’ office, 1111 University Capitol Centre, from March 14-28 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

For more information on the presentations and people involved in the forum, visit international.uiowa.edu/research/child-protection.

The Provost’s Global Forum is made possible through the generous support of the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization. Other sponsors include UI International Programs, the UI Provost’s Offi­ce, the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, National Children’s Alliance, and the Carver College of Medicine- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics. WorldCanvass program partners are UI Pentacrest Museums and UI Video Services.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in these events, contact Sarolta Petersen in advance at 319-335-3862.