Meg's update: February 6th, 2009

The City Univesity of New York, Brooklyn College, sponsored the "Third Child Policy Forum of New York" at the Church Centre. The issues addressed related to the Implementation and Monitoring of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. The Forum reviewed the degree to which the statues, regulations and programs of New York State serve to protect children and adolescents from sexual exploitation. The Forum brought together distinguished speakers, all of whom, addressed particular Legislative Initiatives pertaining to the above topics. Welcoming remarks were made by Christoph M. Kimmich, President, Brooklyn College; Professor Gertrud Lenzer, Director of Studies Program and Center; The Honorable Jeffrey Dinowitz, New York State Assembly; Carol Smolenski, ECPAT Director, and Rachel Lloyd, Director of GEMS. The content of the issues presented were clear, and carried a message of hope that with mutual cooperation among all agencies much progress can be realized in protection of our children.