International JECSE/ZIP Conference at the Heinrich Pesch House
Around 50 participants/intermediares from 14 nations – from Albania to Italy, Spain, Poland and Malta through to Hungary – engaged deeply with issues of child protection and the prevention of sexualised violence at the invitation of JECSE and ZIP.
From Roots to Implementation
After the opening by Ulrike Gentner (ZIP, Ludwigshafen) and Agnieszka Baran (JECSE, Brussels/Krakow), Fr José Mesa SJ, Secretary for Education of the Society of Jesus, Rome, emphasized that Ignatian pedagogy is a pedagogy of the heart and underlined the Ignatian roots of safeguarding. Building on this, Fr John Guiney SJ presented the worldwide project Promotion of a Consistent Culture of Protection (PCCP) and referred to the global identifier „ Jesuit Schools are committed to creating a Safe and Healthy Environment for all“ of the document „Jesuit Schools:
A living tradition in the 21 century“ (2020, 174). This approach concerns discernment, collaboration, and networking.
The contributions made it clear: safeguarding is not only about developing protection concepts, but also about bringing them to life in schools. “We are on a journey – safeguarding is a journey. Children have a voice, they have an opinion, and that is important,” emphasised Brian Cranmer, JCEP Safeguarding Coordinator.
Workshops with Practical Relevance
A wide range of workshops provided participants with concrete ideas. Topics included the application of minimum standards, self-evaluation and action planning, interventions in cases of boundary violations, trauma-sensitive pedagogy, and digital safety in schools. Many practical ideas emerged for implementation in schools – ranging from peer-to-peer education, collaboration between teachers and parent boards, and cyber-crime police interventions to activities in school for all without mobile phones.
Children’s Rights and the Digital World
A particular focus was on addressing digital risks. “The technology is there. We must learn to live with it,” said Brian Cranmer. Noeline Blackwell from the Children’s Rights Alliance Ireland stressed: “Human rights are for everyone and must be applied to everyone. It is about digital rights and digital responsibility. States and societies are obliged to respect, protect and promote children’s rights.”
In his lecture, Marek Spitczok von Brisinski, Coaching and Consulting for Personal und Professional Development, highlighted the dangers of digital sexualised violence against children and adolescents, which is present on all major platforms and is growing rapidly. He called for stricter laws against digital sexual violence and deepfake abuse and for stronger platform responsibility in order to create safe online spaces. Everyone is called upon here: parents, schools, platforms, politicians and communities.
From Project Idea to a Culture of Protection
“In March 2022, ZIP and JECSE organised a conference on safeguarding measures, which initiated further work on this issue in the network’s schools. As a result of the conference, efforts were intensified in all provinces to support schools in implementing safeguarding policies and procedures,” recalled Agnieszka Baran.
Since then, a book (“Protecting Minors in Our Schools”), numerous training sessions and webinars, pilot school projects, and a toolkit with methods and concepts for schools have been developed. An advisory board with representatives from eight regions has been established to support the project. “While the first phase aimed to launch the project, it is now important to implement it sustainably. Among other things, it is now clear how important parental involvement is,” emphasized Ulrike Gentner.
Networking as a Source of Strength
Feedback from the participants was clear:
- “It feels good to be part of this competent network.”
- “I am taking home a sense of consolidation.”
- Cathrin Rieger from ZIP added: “A culture of mindful interaction provides protection. Prevention is often a very heavy subject and can lead to exhaustion. But it is uplifting to meet so many committed and inspiring people who want to create safe spaces together.”
The conference thrived on the diversity of the participants, their skills, and their experiences,” concluded Ulrike Gentner. “Multipliers take the insights and impulses back to their countries and networks – this is a crucial step on our shared path toward stronger child protection. Engaging local communities, schools, and families is equally essential to ensure lasting impact and sustainable implementation.”
„I am very grateful that the conference concluded in a spirit of shared commitment and hope, reinforcing our collective dedication to fostering a consistent culture of protection across all JECSE schools“ said Agnieszka Baran, JECSE Director.
