About The Right to Childhood
Friday 19 October, 2012, 9am – 5pm: Parliament House, Sydney
The Right to Childhood seminar was a unique initiative focusing on the growing concern among child development experts as well as the broader community of the erosion of childhood.
A growing body of scientific evidence has transformed the debate around this trend into an important issue with major implications for mental health, education and policy. Commercialisation, sexualisation, body image dissatisfaction and overexposure to violent imagery have been identified as key influencers of the mental health of young people. This seminar aimed to provide up-to-date and authoritative information from leading experts, discuss initiatives and strategies to facilitate understanding and awareness, as well as empower participants with practical skills to address these issues to improve mental health in young people and better prevent the onsent of poor mental health and the development of mental illness as a result of these factors.
The seminar attracted teachers, social/youth workers, health professionals, parents and people working with young people, as well as policy-makers, academics and representatives from the advertising, media and marketing industries whose professional activities might have an impact on the mindset and behaviour of young people.