12 June 2026
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern Time – Ottawa, Canada)
Online – Free Webinar
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Join us for an engaging conversation with Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe, contributor to the interdisciplinary volume edited by Myriam Wijlens and Yeshica Marianne Umaña Calderón emerging from the course “The Wellbeing of the Child. Protection — Promotion — Rights”. Since 2021, the course has brought together approximately 35 scholars from diverse disciplines, with 14 contributing to the publication.
Every generation has been marked by different innovations, but none has grown up as immersed in screens as today’s children. What effects does social media have on their health, their relationships, and their developing brains? And if banning screens is not the answer, what is? Gwenn S. O’Keeffe presents her findings and offers a practical path forward for parents and educators.
Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe
Chapter: Kids, Teens and Social Media: A Global Problem with Local Solutions
Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe is a pediatrician with more than 30 years of experience, specializing in child advocacy, digital health, and the impact of social media on children and families. Originally from Massachusetts, Dr. O’Keeffe earned degrees in biochemistry, music, medicine, and law, alongside mediation training to support families in conflict resolution. Throughout her career, Dr. O’Keeffe has developed educational resources for families and professionals, served as a trusted media and community expert, and advocated for underserved and foster children. Dr. O’Keeffe currently works at Cortica, continuing her work supporting neurodiverse children and their families.
Yeshica Marianne Umaña Calderón
Yeshica Marianne Umaña Calderón, LLM, JCL, holds a Law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a Licentiate in Canon Law from San Damaso University, Madrid. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Canon Law at Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid and in Catholic Theology at the University of Erfurt, where she also serves as Academic Research Assistant at the Chair of Canon Law. Her recently submitted dissertation examines the rights of victims of clergy sexual abuse in canonical penal law. Ms. Umaña Calderón has published in Studia Canonica and Carthaginensia.
About the Book: The Wellbeing of the Child
The wellbeing of children, with a focus on their rights, protection, and participation, requires an interdisciplinary approach, including international and constitutional law, ethics, psychology, medicine, theology and canon law.
Leading experts from UN institutions, academic and ecclesial settings, as well as professional practice, address topics ranging from the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, truth mechanisms and safeguards against repeated cases of systematic abuse, child participation in public decision-making, ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, psychological and medical implications of COVID, as well as current safeguarding provisions, including within the Catholic Church.
“The global effort to create a world that respects children’s rights remains work in progress and is in fact in need of more critical thought leadership from multiple disciplines. The collections in this book make a significant contribution to address this need.”
— Benyam Dawit Mezmur, member and former chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Editors:
Myriam Wijlens — Professor of Canon Law, University of Erfurt; former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Yeshica Marianne Umaña Calderón — Academic Research Assistant at the Chair of Canon Law, University of Erfurt.
The book is available for purchase and Open Access at: https://lit-verlag.de/isbn/978-3-643-91836-9/
Contact us:
CPCS@ustpaul.ca
Saint Paul University
223 rue Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1S 1C4
+1 613 236-1393 ext. 2613
