Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
I can’t get these statistics out of my head: one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before they are 18. That means 500,000 children in the next year will be sexually abused. Moreover, it is estimated that 88 percent of abuse never gets reported.
With such prevalence in our society, it is no wonder that health care officials now think of sexual abuse as a community problem that all of us can work to understand and prevent. Indeed, the elementary school district in which I am a teacher has adopted curriculum to help young students understand what it is and how they can ask for help. As adults—mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, and caregivers—we can also empower ourselves through knowledge and a fearless attitude to ensure the safety of the children in our communities.
Many adults who engage in sexual activity with a child or adolescent may have been abused themselves as children. Others molest because they experience a sense of power that they don’t have in relationships with other adults. One thing is clear: the abuser continues the abuse because the victim is frightened, confused, and doesn’t know how to call for help.
To ensure the sexual safety of our children, we must have the courage to speak up and trust our instincts. According to the Stop It Now! website, when another adult acts in a way that makes alarm bells in your gut go off, say something to that person in front of the child. The abuser gets the message that someone is noticing and the child realizes he or she does not have to face this alone.
We can also empower our children by talking and teaching openly about this difficult life challenge. Teachers follow a research based curriculum and the proper names for body parts are part of this teaching. As a first year teacher, I practiced saying these words aloud in my empty classroom so that I became comfortable saying things like “penis” and “vagina.” Teaching the names allows children to understand their bodies and tell, if needed, about sexual abuse. Parents can also practice talking and using those words with their children. This way, children will know they can discuss anything with mom and dad, even something embarrassing.
If you suspect a child is being abused, don’t hesitate to call the police or a helpline. If you fear your child is a victim, contact your doctor. Don’t wait, don’t blame yourself. Don’t hesitate to act to safeguard the emotional and physical well-being of any child.
Please click on the sources below to empower yourself to prevent or stop sexual abuse:
www.stopitnow.org
www.darkness2light.org
www.thosearemyprivateparts.com
Add a Comment2 Comments
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amy Jerome and I am a volunteer for
a non-profit organization called the Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation. Our mission at LGLPCI is to help heal and support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide. We are actively seeking adult survivors who are willing to post their childhood photo & caption, their story, or their creative expressions to our website www.letgoletpeacecomein.org. By uniting survivors from around the globe we hope to provide a stronger and more powerful voice to those survivors who have not yet found the courage to speak out.
I am writing to you to ask you to please consider sharing our website with survivors you may come in contact with. It is through the support of courageous advocates like you that we will succeed in our effort to help one survivor at a time. If you have any questions please feel free to e‐mail me directly at [email protected]. Together we can; together we should; together we NEED to stand up and be counted.
Warmest Regards,
Amy Jerome, Volunteer
April 30, 2011 - 7:17amLet Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation
630 W. Germantown Pike; Suite 180
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
This Comment
Amy,
April 30, 2011 - 9:55amThank you for the information and link to the web page.
It has a wealth of information and support to help the healing process for victims around the globe.
We can all help,
Kristan
This Comment