Preventing and Responding to Violence against Children and Adolescents in Institutions Run by the Catholic Church: The Procedures for Documenting Prevention Strategies

Abstract

Preventing and responding to sexual violence against children and adolescents is a crucial task of the contemporary Church. The article first outlines the historical foundations of prevention measures taken by the Catholic Church in Poland. This section is followed by the conclusions of the audit of the documents drafted in dioceses and provinces of religious orders in Poland. The last section summarizes the conclusions from two meetings of the persons responsible for prevention in Catholic dioceses and religious orders in Poland. These meetings were held in Częstochowa and Gniezno, and their participants discussed the results of the audit of the prevention documents and the reception of this audit. The method used in the study was analysis: the analysis of relevant documents (the article presents the conclusions of this analysis) and the analysis of the conclusions formulated during the meetings of those in charge of prevention. These conclusions will be used in the development of further prevention strategies for the protection of children and adolescents in Poland. They will also be the basis for planning preventive actions by individual dioceses and orders such as planning both training classes and workshops for employees, volunteers as well as children, adolescents and parents. They will allow planning methods of monitoring and supervising the work of educators.