WS 17 - Sexual Violence

Prevalence rates derived from epidemiological studies confirm that sexual violence against women and children represents a serious global health problem. Research in victims demonstrates marked long-term effects which contribute to health problems.

Against this background the Session will adress this huge burden in a changing society with new technologies enhancing the risk of sexual traumatization on the one hand and offering new perspectives in combating this on the other.

It will be discussed that sexual violence is promoted by cultural factors oppressing women and enhancing misogynic attitudes. Furthermore, it will highlight the new technologies (internet) for inappropriately contacting minors (e.g. grooming behavior) and distributing child abuse images, as well as promoting cultural conflicts and anti-women attitudes via the worldwide availability of pornographic materials denoting the umbrella of cognitive distortions concerning sexuality.

The workshop will scrutinize the knowledge to devise strategies for using the internet and new technologies themselves for the prevention of sexual violence against children and women.