By Charlotte Hillyard-Baker
Western University and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) has teamed up to organize a conference that will raise awareness about the relationship between social media, cyber bullying and sexual violence.
This two day event begins this evening in London, ON at the university’s Faculty of Education department and will see many guest speakers and a theater performance.
Manager of the Center for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children Anna-Lee Straatman, said there will be just over 500 people attending the conference.
“The goal at the end of the day is to raise awareness regarding the impact of the abuse of social media when sexual violence is in place,” she said.
Straatman also told Humber News the conference is geared towards all adolescence – both males and females – and their parents.
“It is an important topic that needs to be addressed, and its good to have an opportunity where parents get to learn a little bit more about what’s happening so that they could be more proactive with their children,” she said.
Guest speakers include Jackson Katz, internationally known speaker, educator and filmmaker as well as the creator of Mentors in Violence Prevention Program. Carol Todd will speak on behalf of her daughter Amanda Todd who committed suicide last year after being bullied through social media.
http://storify.com/charlottebaker/western-university-camh-hosts-bully-prevention-con