SCHENGEN - INVITATION FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS
„Sexuality refers to a core dimension of being human, which includes individual and social capabilities and conditions for eroticism, emotional attachment/love, sex, gender and reproduction. It is anchored in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs and values, and is expressed through identity, attitudes, values, roles, behaviours and relationships. Sexuality is a result of the interplay of biological, psychological, socio/economic, cultural, ethical and religious/spiritual factors." In this manner Pan American Health Organisation in collaboration with the World Association for Sexology formulated a basic definition of sexuality {May 2000]. That document also includes specific actions and strategies suggested to promote sexual health. A very important task lies before sexologists - among others goals - according to Eli Coleman:
·· Promote sexual research and evaluation
·· Promote sexology as a research discipline
•· Promote sexological research across disciplines (e.g. nursing, sociology, anthropology, psychology, epidemiology, etc.)
Unfortunately, the progress in sex research and in sex education is slower than desire of impatient sex reformers. The polemics between biological essentialism and social constructionism persists in sexology as well. These opinion conflicts refer to concepts of gender, erotic orientation, sex violence, sex abuse and others. Sexological scientific knowledge is at risk of being replaced by selected findings associated with ideological, economic and political movements and impacts.
The representation of sex in the media is often inexact, modified by the race for high ratings. Inadequate interest is paid to marginal behaviour and sexual minorities above all.
However, the sexologists should integrate mass media into efforts to deliver a true sexual health education both of youth and adults.
Sexological Society of Czech Medical Society J. E. Purkyně organizes two days´ scientific conference „Bohnické sexuologické dny" in Prague Mental hospital Bohnice in February every year. Until now these meetings of Czech and Slovak specialists took place twenty times. In our opinion the extension of our traditional national action to Centre-European sexological community is very desirable. The enlarged Schengen area enables some sexual delinquents to escape from court ordered therapy. Nevertheless Schengen area also brings a very good opportunity for expert gathering, views exchange and cooperation. The Prague international conference thus can contribute significantly to the fair discussion of methods and experience in the diagnostics and treatment of sex offenders.
Our cordial invitation to Prague is directed to all colleagues not only in the close neighbourhood of Czech Republic, but to all persons interested in behavioural sexology. We look forward to a joint engagement of European sexologists for the reduction of the distance between research and health care in this sector of sexual medicine.
