Symposium Multidisciplinary approach in the protection of abused children organised by the University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine

Within Children’s Week, the University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine brought together professionals from different areas of expertise at the Symposium Multidisciplinary approach in the protection of abused children in Zagreb, hotel Westin, on 12 October.

The Symposium was opened by the Minister Deputy of the Ministry of Social Policy and the Youth, Maja Sporiš, who gave a speech Social policy of the Republic of Croatia and the Youth.

Prof. dr. sc Gordana Buljan Flander, director of the Child Protection Center of Zagreb, gave a lecture Protection of abused children – what have we learnt? presenting experience from her work and from the Center’s work with children who experienced various forms of abuse and neglect, recent scientific knowledge in this field, as well as difficulties and examples of good practice in child protection in Croatia.

The Symposium was also attended by Center’s Vesna Vurušić, rehabilitator, Dora Kralj, social educator and Renata Ćorić Špoljar, psychologist.

Symposium was moderated by prof.dr.sc. Ivana Čuković-Bagić who also delivered a lecture titled Role of the doctor of dental medicine in recognizing the abused child.

Lecture Responsibility of a health worker and his/her role in court proceedings was delivered by Ilija Desnica, judge at the Zagreb Regional Court.

Prof.dr.sc. Hrvoje Brkić, dean of the School of Dental Medicine gave a lecture titled Aspects of forensic dentistry in children and adolescents. Prof.dr.sc. Hrvoje Jurić lectured on Psychosocial aspects of dental trauma in children.

The number of professionals attending this symposium and the interest for the discussion confirm that there is a growing number of doctors of dental medicine who recognize their duties in identifying abused and neglected children.

Given that knowledge about the protection of children is necessary for the interest and recognition of the first symptoms of abuse and neglect, the School of Dental Medicine, within the integrated undergraduate and graduate study of dental medicine, teaches students about these issues in collaboration with the Child Protection Center of Zagreb in the course Neglect and abuse of children by prof.dr.sc. Ivana Čuković-Bagić.