What is grooming?
Sexual abuse is mostly preceded by and connected with complex manipulation - grooming.
Grooming is a term used to describe a combination of various manipulative tactics that can be compared to setting a trap. The bait must be tempting, and the mechanism solid and sophisticated enough so that the trapped victim has no way to escape.
Grooming is part of modus operandi of approximately 80% of offenders. Understanding its dynamics and recognizing the elements it consists of is a key part of preventing the sexual abuse of children.
Our Goal
Our goal is to raise awareness of grooming and thereby enable people to intervene in time. The more people who can recognize grooming, the more children will be safe.
See the collaboration options below and don’t hesitate to contact us if any of them interest you.
The film Broken Voices sparked an international debate on grooming and child protection at KIIT University in India
On August 6, 2026, a screening of the film Sbormistr (Broken Voices) took place at KIIT University in India, followed by a three-continent online meeting devoted to grooming, institutional safety, and the possibilities of preventing child sexual abuse. The discussion brought together representatives of the Společně proti groomingu (Together Against Grooming) initiative, academics and students from KIIT, and a delegation from the City University of New York (CUNY, USA).
Representing the Together Against Grooming initiative were Slávka Karkošková, guarantor of social work study programmes at the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, and member of the European Commission's expert group, the Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse; Jiří Konečný, an award-winning European film producer and founder of Endorfilm, whose films have received more than one hundred international awards, nine of which were selected as national Oscar candidates; and Gabriela Plattner, the initiative's coordinator and co-moderator of the meeting.
On site at the Indian university, the meeting was attended by academics and students from the schools of film and media studies, liberal studies, design, public policy, and public health. Also present was a 38-member delegation of students and academics from the City University of New York.
The meeting was opened and co-moderated by Prof. Smruti Choudhury, Director of the KIIT film school. In her opening remarks, she emphasized that film represents an irreplaceable and powerful medium for opening up complex issues of social power relations, institutional safety, and human rights.
The rich discussion following the screening showed that the need to recognize warning signs of grooming and to strengthen prevention in organizations working with children resonates across cultures. The debate addressed mechanisms of manipulation, the abuse of institutional authority, the role of the social environment, and practical possibilities for creating safer institutions. At the close of the session, students completed an anonymous online questionnaire focused on their perception of the film, their understanding of the dynamics of grooming, and the cultural transferability of its themes.
For the Together Against Grooming initiative, this meeting represents a significant milestone in the development of international academic partnerships, and at the same time a strong source of inspiration for further research into the educational potential of film and its possible uses in the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Collaboration Options
Film Screening with Discussion
The film Sbormistr (Broken Voices) explores the issue of child sexual abuse from a unique perspective. It creates space for reflection on children’s vulnerability, the power of authority, and the crossing of professional boundaries. Teaching materials for the film are available here. An ethical reflection is offered by Assoc. Prof. Slávka Karkošková (available here).
The educational potential of the film Broken Voices
Broken Voices explores the issue of child sexual abuse from a unique perspective. It offers subtle clues as to what happens before the abuse occurs, offering an opportunity to better understand the vulnerability of children, the power of authority, and moments of professional boundaries being crossed.
The methodological material for the film (available here ) describes its educational potential in more detail. Associate Professor Slávka Karkošková also offers an ethical reflection on the film (available here ).
If you are interested in a film screening and a subsequent discussion or workshop for children aged 12 and over or for adults, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Founders of the Initiative
Founder
doc. ThDr. Mgr. SLÁVKA KARKOŠKOVÁ, Ph.D.
She is an Associate Professor in the field of Social Work, currently working at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. She also works part-time in Slovakia as a specialist at the so-called Coordination and Methodology Center for the Prevention of Violence Against Women. Additionally, she is an external member of the teaching staff at the Judicial Academy of the Slovak Republic and occasionally works as a supervisor. For more than 20 years, she has conducted research, published, and lectured primarily on the issue of child sexual abuse. In October 2025, Slávka was elected by the European Commission as a member of the Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse—an expert network connecting specialists across Europe in the field of child sexual abuse prevention. During her four-year mandate, she will provide expert advice to the European Commission and contribute to the preparation and implementation of European policies in this highly sensitive area.
Project Coordinator
GABRIELA PLATTNER
She studied Political Science and International Relations and spent six years iliving in countries across Europe. After gaining experience in marketing, event management, and IT, she decided to fully dedicate herself to the field of education, training and talent consulting. She lectures and trains both in corporate settings and at secondary schools. When she was asked to lead the Together Against Grooming project, she could not say no. Raising awareness on this topic aligns perfectly with her long-held personal vision.
Founder
JIŘÍ KONEČNÝ
He studied at the University of Economics, Prague (Department of International Business) and completed the Production Department at FAMU in Prague. He founded the ENDORFILM production company. As a producer, he is credited on more than 40 films and has received over 100 awards. He has also been nominated for an Oscar nine times. He recognized the educational potential of the film The Choirmaster very early on. With the support and professional guidance of Mrs. Karkošková, he decided to establish the initiative Together Against Grooming to raise awareness among young people and professionals.