Redmaids’ High recently invited local schools and three prominent speakers to visit them for a conference for Years 10, 11 and 12 students entitled, ‘Fostering Respect’. This pioneering event was dedicated to educating young people about the importance of healthy and consensual relationships.
The conference was designed to be informative and engaging, featuring talks, presentations and interactive sessions, with the speakers offering a wealth of knowledge and experience, including valuable insights into building respectful and meaningful connections.
Amy Forbes-Robertson from IT Happens Education opened the event, talking about the importance of intimacy in healthy relationships, as well as the impact of pornography on young people’s perception of healthy intimacy and how to recognise both green and red flags, as well as pornography being problematic for violent and aggressive behaviours in relationships.
Deana Puccio, former Assistant District Attorney in New York City and founder of The Rap Project gave a talk, Empowering Choices, offering wealth of practical advice on staying safe in various social settings, including parties and overseas travel. The talk addressed common challenges young people face in these environments and provided strategies to reduce risk and enhance personal safety.
The talk also took a deeper look at the legal understanding of consent, particularly in the digital age. Key areas of focus included the complexities of sexting, the dangers of sextortion and the violation of privacy through upskirting. By challenging harmful gender stereotypes, the discussion sought to foster a more nuanced understanding of consent, encouraging respect, awareness, and legal literacy. The presentation aimed to empower young people with the knowledge and tools for both physical and digital safety, while also promoting respectful relationships and behaviour.
Cathy Walker, founder of The Respect Project, delivered a workshop entitled Understanding Consent: Boundaries, Respect and Real Connections, allowing students to explore the legal and ethical dimensions of consent, alongside the role that influences such as social media, algorithms and disinformation play in shaping perceptions of relationships and boundaries. By understanding the importance of respecting each other’s lived experiences and perspectives, students were able to gain an insight into what makes consensual relationships not just acceptable, but also meaningful and enjoyable.