International Course on Combating Violence Against Children Translated into Foreign Languages
The course “SAFEGUARDING: Child Safety in the Church Environment” has been translated into five foreign languages: English, Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, and Croatian.
The project “SAFEGUARDING: Child Safety in the Church Environment” was initiated by the Center for Child Dignity at the Ukrainian Catholic University. It unites experts on the protection of minors from the Catholic Church across six countries: Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Hungary. Through this project, we collaborate with representatives of the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe to create a safe environment for children.
The course focuses on key topics related to combating violence against children, outlines ways to foster a safe Church environment where every child feels accepted and respected, provides basic safety rules for children, and offers clear procedures for responding to cases of violence. This joint effort significantly strengthens cooperation on child safety issues.
The course illustrations, created by artist and icon painter Ulyana Krekhovets, employ the sketch technique—quick lines and spots without further correction. The artist was inspired by the style of folk icons on glass, using two primary colors: green (symbolizing life) and orange (symbolizing safety). Art speaks a universal language, conveying essential messages across borders. These drawings help reinforce and communicate the course’s ideas, facilitating understanding of the complex topics surrounding child abuse.
Course Creators
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Ivanka Rudakevych, coordinator of projects and programs at the Center for the Dignity of the Child at UCU
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Marta Dalgewicz, coordinator of internal and external communication projects at the Office of the Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the Protection of Children and Youth
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Sr. Judit Szentes, pedagogical expert in the field of protection of minors, responsible for Catholic education in Hungary
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Marina Šiaković, theologian, expert in protecting minors and vulnerable persons from violence, member of the Council for the Laity at the Bishops’ Conference in Croatia, former secretary of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons
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Sr. Agnieszka Eva Jarkovska, organizes courses and conducts formations on the protection of minors for monks, clergy, and laity, and works with victims of violence in Slovakia
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Fr. Marek O’Praem, a spiritual director who accompanies victims of sexual abuse by clergy and monks; lectures on the protection of minors in the Czech Republic.
The course is available online for your convenience at the following link.
