Saffron is proud to host an educational event in collaboration with the RCMP for adults who are parenting or working with children and youth at the end of November. The event is free of charge and will be held on November 29, 2023, starting at 6:00 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The event follows an indoor farmers market in the County Building and will be held in the Council Chambers.
In 2022, Cybertip – Canada’s platform for reporting online sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation – reported a 36% increase in the overall online victimization of children for sexual purposes, including a 62% increase in sextortion files and a 55% increase in online luring incidents. One common myth is that online sexual violence only affects young girls and women. However, with sextortion in particular, 91% of victims identify as males, with perpetrators more likely to extort them for financial purposes, whereas females are more likely to be extorted for sexual purposes. We know that the motivations behind these crimes and the methods used by perpetrators to engage with children and youth differ based on their age and gender, but the impact of these crimes is severe on children and affects their mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being in the long term.
With such a jump in volume, many of us who either have children or work/volunteer with them may be left asking ourselves: What can I do about this? How do I keep my kids safe?
This event aims to provide parents and caregivers with answers to these questions, focusing on themes of privacy, autonomy, and security online and covering strategies to prevent online sexual violence from occurring in the first place. Our team extensively covers all facets of online sexual violence, assisting parents to understand that knowledge is power, and while we may not be able to fully prevent youth from encountering harm online, we do have the opportunity to prevent and intervene where necessary.
Saffron brings a vast array of expertise and experience to this subject alongside our local Strathcona County RCMP, who will be speaking on current online sexual violence trends affecting the region and police-recommended actions adults can take to ensure the safety of children as they engage with social media, gaming, and other platforms.
Join us on November 29 to enjoy a Farmer’s Market, light refreshments, and quality education from Saffron’s Public Education Team and the Strathcona County RCMP.
