Wednesday 24 September 2008

Brook holds fringe meeting to discuss threat of child protection policies on young people’s sexual health

Leading sexual health charity Brook yesterday (23 September 2008) held a fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester, Helping or hindering: are child protection policies threatening young people’s sexual health?

The meeting generated a lively discussion and the rights of young people were vigorously defended by Brook, Deputy Children’s Commissioner Rob Williams and Katrina Mather, UK Youth Parliament. 

The event, chaired by Mary Riddell (Daily Telegraph) and held in partnership with Progress, debated whether confidentiality in young people’s sexual health services is under attack and discussed what could be done to balance the needs of child protection and young people’s sexual health. Speakers included:

  • Helen Finney, Centre Manager, Brook in Liverpool
  • Katrina Mather, UK Youth Parliament
  • Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes South West
  • Rob Williams, Deputy Children’s Commissioner, 11 Million’s Chief Executive.

Brook research found that 62% of young people think that confidentiality is the most important factor when it comes to using sexual health services1. Measures intended to safeguard young people from harm are inadvertently threatening confidentiality which may threaten young people’s sexual health and risk the exploitation and abuse of young people remaining hidden.

Rob Williams, Chief Executive of 11 MILLION discussed 11 MILLION's work on safeguarding.  Commenting on the Working Together to Safeguard Children document he said: “Professionals must always work in the best interests of the child, even in circumstances where this may prove difficult. This will require greater clarity at local level and strong leadership from the government.”

Katrina Mather, a young person from the UK Youth Parliament, said that young people need to be able to trust services otherwise they won’t use them - the effect on young people of mistrust in services would be ‘disastrous’.

Simon Blake, Brook’s Chief Executive, said: “We know that confidentiality is so important to young people and are calling on the government to issue advice on how to interpret Working Together to Safeguard Children. Local safeguarding children protocols must acknowledge that there may be circumstances when it is not necessary to report sexual activity between younger people to social services and allow professionals to assess what is in the best interests of the young people they are working with.”

For further information about Brook’s campaign or to register your interest please visit www.brook.org.uk/confidentiality.

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For media enquiries please contact Natalie Collyer, Press Officer, on 020 7284 6062 or 07500 786 762

Notes

1.         Brook ‘Wise Up’ survey, 2005

2.         Brook is the UK’s leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has more than 40 years’ experience of working with young people and currently has a network of more than 50 services in 18 areas of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching more than 200,000 young people every year.  www.brook.org.uk

3.         Progress is the independent organisation for Labour party members and trade unionists.