III Jornades en Psicopatologia Forense

According to a recent study by Save the Children (Eyes that Fail to See), the number of reported cases of child sexual abuse increased by 15.8% in 2016, from 3,502 in 2015 to 4,056 in 2016. The 2017 report from the Office of the Attorney General also confirmed an annual rise in this type of crime, with a 39% increase in criminally qualified cases of child sexual abuse. Nonetheless, the number of reported cases actually brought to trail remains relatively low.

In this context, the only evidence that has historically been available is the child's testimony. However, the use of ICTs has had two significant impacts: on the one hand, online interaction increases the likelihood of contact between potential abusers and victims; while, on the other, cyber mediation has generated new ways of gathering evidence that go beyond the child victim’s oral account.

The aim of this conference is to explore several innovative aspects of forensic testing and assessment methods as relating to the sexual abuse of children through ICTs, as well as the profiling of cyber abusers and cyber victims. The event has been organised as part of the Faculty of Law’s Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychopathology and the Master’s Degree in Cybercrime at UIC Barcelona.

3.40 p.m.: Attendee arrival and accreditations

4.00 p.m.: Opening address by Dr Carles Martin Fumadó, forensic doctor and coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Legal, Forensic and Criminological Psychopathology, and Vicki Bernadet, president of the Board of Trustees of the Vicki Bernadet Foundation

4.15 - 5.30 p.m.: Round table: “Profiles of cyberabusers and cybervictims in the various forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation in cyberspace”, moderated by Dr José R. Agustina, director of the Master’s Degree in Cybercrime at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona)

Irene Montiel, head of therapeutic and legal services at the Vicki Bernadet Foundation

Manuel Gámez, lecturer and expert researcher in online victimisation in the Faculty of Psychology at the Autonomous University of Madrid

Montserrat Escudé, head of the Central Citizen Proximity and Information Unit of the Mossos d’Esquadra Police Force

Carlos Morán, chief inspector of Group I of Technological Crime in Barcelona of the National Police Force

Coffee break

5.45 - 7.15 p.m.: Workshop on techniques for interviewing and evaluating child cyber victims by Dr Josep Ramon Juárez, forensic psychologist and lecturer in the Master’s Degree in Legal, Forensic and Criminological Psychopathology at UIC Barcelona.

7.15 – 8.00 p.m.: Closing address by the dean of the Faculty of Law at UIC Barcelona, Pilar Fernández, and Dr Leopoldo Ortega-Monasterio, psychiatrist and director of the Master’s Degree in Legal, Forensic and Criminological Psychopathology

Registration is free. Seating is limited.

Organising entities:

UIC Barcelona, Vicki Bernadet Foundation & International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children