Bella Klebanov, Guest Speaker on April 2 2026 : A Journey to Reconceptualize the Presence of Others in Child Abuse
We are honored to welcome postdoctoral researcher Bella Klebanov for this conference, which will take place on the Teams platform and will be held in English, followed by a question period during which participants may address the speaker in either French or English.
Bella Klebanov is a social work researcher whose scientific approach is grounded in her field experience with refugee children. Her PhD at Tel Aviv University enabled an in‑depth exploration of the role of the social environment in situations of intrafamilial child sexual abuse, highlighting the influence of family and social dynamics on children’s trauma and healing. As an active member of Professor Carmit Katz’s research team, she has contributed to studies on polyvictimization, emotional contradictions within abusive families, and the vulnerabilities of children with disabilities. Her current work focuses on multigenerational dynamics within child protection systems, with the aim of identifying structural gaps and promoting collaborative practices that strengthen trust between families and services.
A Journey to Reconceptualize the Presence of Others in Child Abuse, by Bella Klebanov, postdoctoral researcher under the supervision of Professor Delphine Collin‑Vézina, Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Monday February 2 2026, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Teams
Conference jointly organized by the Groupe de recherche et d’intervention sur les adaptations sociales de l’enfance (GRISE) and the Équipe de recherche sur l’adaptation positive, le bien‑être et la santé mentale des jeunes exposés à un risque accru d’adversité familiale ou sociale.
Abstract : This presentation will explore the phenomenon of “significant others” who are present during intrafamilial child abuse, and the profound implications of their presence. Across five studies, including systematic literature review, forensic interview analyses, retrospective adult testimonies, and an in-depth qualitative interview analysis, the findings reveal that abuse in the family rarely occurs in isolation, and Others often see, hear, suspect, or know the abuse. It will examine the complex terrain between external witnessing and the absence of acknowledgment, and how this gap influences children’s developing internal narratives, including the ways they come to understand, question, or hold their own experiences. Drawing on conceptual frameworks of witnessing, testimony, and broader social-ethical perspectives, the talk will reflect on how external recognition, or its absence, intersects with processes of meaning-making, memory, and the search for validation across the life span.