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Plenary - Emma Hakansson and David Kessler
Plenary

Plenary

9:00 am

21 August 2025

Plenary 2

Themes

ICTC

Session Program

9:00 am

The adult view of children as lesser humans: How this erodes autonomy and leads to abuse
Emma Hakansson
As a western adult culture, we deem developing children as ‘contributing’ less and therefore lesser. In turn, we afford children fewer rights, particularly in relation to their autonomy and voice. These conditions permit ongoing childhood sexual abuse in which children believe that to be an acceptable person, they must obey adults even when it deeply wounds them.

Advocate and Chair of the Australian Childhood Foundation’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, Emma Hakansson.

10:00 am

Releasing the pain of grief and finding meaning
David Kessler
As a western adult culture, we deem developing children as ‘contributing’ less and therefore lesser. In turn, we afford children fewer rights, particularly in relation to their autonomy and voice. These conditions permit ongoing childhood sexual abuse in which children believe that to be an acceptable person, they must obey adults even when it deeply wounds them.

Advocate and Chair of the Australian Childhood Foundation’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, Emma Hakansson.
Resources