• Basic principles of prevention
• Prevention of sexual abuse
• Safety with strangers
• Safety in self care
• Be an advocate

• What is child abuse?
• How to respond if a child tells
• Reporting suspected abuse or neglect
• What to do after abuse is reported
• Community resources
• Guiding Internet use

Evidence is mounting that child mistreatment is the precursor to many of the major social problems of today:

. 95% of child abusers were themselves abused as children

Not every child who is abused has problems of this magnitude, but we know child abuse robs far too many children of their ability to freely reach their full potential. Their loss is our loss and adequate measures are needed to end the cycle of child abuse.

Another way of looking at the statistics is to realize that if we were able to stop or even prevent part of the child abuse, we would significantly contribute to solving some major problems in our society.

We now know that children can prevent abuse and abduction if they are given skills they can understand and practice in every day life. Child abuse is in the headlines with alarming regularity. Over the past fifteen years, reports of child abuse have steadily increased.

Children are the first line of defense against abuse. Parents, schools, and organizations can use all the avoidance technology at their disposal, but experience tells us that we are almost always surprised to discover perpetrators in our midst.

Prevention of child abuse can be taught without talking about abuse. Children do not need to be told what abuse is, who the offenders are, how they operate, what they do, or why. Neither do they need to be told that the people they love might hurt them. Rather, we can deal with prevention positively and concretely, giving children the skills they need to act effectively on their own behalf when they are in a potentially abusive situation.

There are times when children can and must be responsible for their own well-being, such as when they are alone with a potential abuser. At such times, they need permission to speak up. They need specific techniques to stop what is being done to them. And, they must know they will be believed and supported by the adults in their lives. The best overall defense children have against abuse is:

. a sense of their own abilities
. the ability to accurately assess and handle a variety of situations
. knowing where and how to get help
. knowing they will be believed

Children have a right to be safe without being afraid. Children who have been taught to think for themselves are the safest.

Training to prevent sexual abuse begins with children's natural abilities, what they already know, and the experiences they have already had. The fundamental messages in prevention of child abuse by people known to the child include:

1. Your body belongs to you
2. You have a right to say who touches you and how
3. If someone touches you in a way you do not like, in a way that makes you feel funny or uncomfortable inside, or in a way that you think is wrong or that your parents would think is wrong, it is okay to say "no"
4. If the person does not stop, say , " I am going to tell!" and then tell, no matter what
5. If you are asked to keep a secret, say, "No, I am going to tell!"
6. If you have a problem, keep talking about it until someone helps you

Children learn that they can have some control over what happens to their bodies when we teach them, and when we show them through our own behavior, that their bodies do indeed belong to them. Children, as young as two and three, already know what touch they like and what touch they do not like. Touch they do not like makes them feel uneasy and seems wrong to them. This approach to prevention simply gives them permission to speak up. It teaches them how to speak up effectively and in a way that is appropriate.

These techniques to prevent child abuse must be learned not just as ideas, but as real skills. This means practice. Part of effective prevention education includes role-playing, giving children an opportunity to to see how it feels to say "no" in a difficult situation. Parents can do some of this, but the essence of the classroom programs is actually giving children an opportunity to practice these skills so they can really use them should they find it necessary. Just as children do not learn to ride a bicycle by talking or reading about bicycling, children do not learn to prevent child abuse without opportunities to work with the techniques, to practice and feel comfortable with the skills.

Children need to know that strangers are just people they don’t know and that they encounter strangers every day of their lives. There is no reason to be afraid, but there are safety rules which should be followed with all strangers when children are not with an adult who is taking care of them (e.g. playing in the front yard or at the park). The concepts and rules for safety around strangers are simple and straightforward and should be taught without fear of horror stories. They can be utilized by children as young as three and should be adapted as children get older.

The rules to follow by a child alone or with friends when approached by a stranger are:

3) Don’t take anything from the person. Not even something that belongs to you or your parents.

4) Don’t go anywhere with the person. Even if s/he says it is an emergency, go to someone you know and check it out.

5) If you begin to feel that something is wrong or to feel uncomfortable or afraid, back up four steps, then turn around and run. Do anything you can to attract attention! Ask for help. Adults cannot tell you are in trouble unless you get their attention and ask for help. Do not get stuck because you failed to follow one or more of the rules and are now in a difficult situation.

Again, in all areas of prevention, the rules and concepts have no value if they remain ideas. Children learn by doing. All the research has shown that these rules must become skills in order to protect children. This means practice, role-playing, acting out everyday situations. This can be awkward for parents, which is part of the reason that it is so important for schools to participate in this educational process.

For all praptical purposes, there are times when your children are alone. For example, you are in the shower and someone comes to the door; or you’re in the yard and the telephone rings.

With only the rarest exceptions, all children are alone – however briefly – at one time or another and when they are alone, they wonder what could happen. Knowing and talking about your children’s concerns not only reassures them, but prepares them to be safer. Setting up a series of guidelines and discussing options for unexpected situations is a good first step.

Answering the telephone

Answer the telephone with "hello". Children should not give their name or answer any questions over the telephone unless they are talking with a close friend or family member.

If they are home alone, they should say, "My mom (father) is busy, may I take a message?"

If a caller refuses to leave a message or is giving the child a hard time, it is all right to hang up the phone.

If your child cannot take a message, for whatever reason, ask the person to call back at a specified time.

Answering the door

Children should keep the door locked when they are at home alone. Always go to the door when someone knocks or rings. Ask "Who is it?" Do not open the door for anyone except a member of the family or a friend if you have permission. With your children, establish specific responses for people delivering a package such as, "Please leave it by the door." If a signature is required; "Please come back later" or "Leave it with the neighbor".

Emergencies

Children need to know what is expected of them in an emergency and how to make an emergency call to Emergency Health centers, ambulances, etc. They need to know that all rules are called off in a life threatening situation and that they have your permission to do whatever needs to be done at the moment to protect themselves or others.

Be prepared - the following list will give you a starting place for family discussion

• My name
• My mother’s name
• My father’s name
• My address
• My phone number
• My mother’s work phone number
• My father’s work phone number
• Police/Fire/Emergency
• Doctors
• Neighbors/ Other resource people
• If the phone rings, I will...
• If somebody comes to the door, I will...
• I can let the following people in...
• If there is an emergency, I should...
• If I get scared, I will...
• My responsibilities are...

Providing prevention education for children is only the beginning. Each and every one of us has a role to play.

Speak up

Recognize that you are an advocate for each and every child you know or with whom you come into contact. If a child is being maltreated and you do not speak up, who will? To report suspected child maltreatment call local services for child protection.

Educate yourself

Read this briefing about prevention of child abuse and pass it on.

Volunteer

There are many service organizations in communities and hundreds of children who need role-models, homes and advocates.

Give

Whether it is time, materials, or money, the need is there. Community service organizations will be pressed ever more as children come forward and reveal what is happening to them. Part of ending the cycle of child abuse is taking good care of these children. That means more resources will be needed.

Acknowledge yourselves

This project reflects our commitment to reducing the level of child abuse in our community.

Child abuse is a complex problem. It requires considerable thought, commitment and multi-faceted programming to enable families and schools to reduce the vulnerability of children. School-based prevention of child abuse education, which has been shown to be effective and which does not diminish the child’s education sense of well-being, is a key element in that effort. Reporting child abuse is essential. Provide follow-up care and treatment to reduce the secondary effects of child abuse is essential.

By giving each and every child in this community the opportunity to learn prevention skills, by listening and helping when they come to us, and by adequately addressing child abuse when it happens, this community can move a step closer to making real its declared commitment to the well-being of each of its children.

Child abuse occurs when an adult causes, or threatens to cause, physical or mental harm to a child. Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as well as neglect, which may include lack of supervision, inadequate physical, medical, or educational care, and abandonment.

Abusers can be strangers, family, friends, or neighbors, someone the child knows and trusts. Child abuse is not limited to any one group. It happens in all socio-economic racial, ethnic, and religious sectors. Studies show that most sexual abuse involves no physical damage to the child, the damage comes from the violation of the relationship and has far more long-lasting effects than physical injury.

What abuse does to children

Children who have been abused not only suffer a wide range of effects from their victimization, but are at greater risk to be abused again. Abuse and neglect commonly produce feeling of: guilt, violation, loss of control, lowered self-esteem

Even those children who seem to be handling their abuse are concerned that:

Long-term effects of abuse and neglect

Common problems for abused and neglected children include: emotional difficulties, disruptive behavior, poor performance in school, vulnerability to further abuse, depression, suicide attempts.

While these problems are not always not obviously linked to the abuse, they must not be overlooked or allowed to develop unchecked.

Long-term studies of low achievers, runaways, substance abusers, prostitutes and incarcerated individuals paint a disturbing picture. Abuse and neglect are consistent and pervasive elements in their backgrounds. Low self-esteem and poor self-concept are ever present.

Knowing this, there can be little doubt that we must commit our energy and resources to preventing, intervening, and treating child abuse and neglect in order that present and future generations have the opportunity they deserve to meet their full potential.

The trauma of a child reporting abuse is very real. If this happens, the first concern is to remain calm and supportive of the child. Give the child an opportunity to tell you in his or her own way what happened. Do not overreact or criticize in any way.

The child needs to be reassured:

1. That you believe him/her and you are glad s/he told you

2. That s/he did not do anything wrong

3. That you will do your best to see that s/he is not hurt again and make every effort to get help.

Do not promise the child that you will do anything specific. You may not be able to keep that promise. Children who report sexual or physical abuse need to be examined by a doctor. Make the child a part of the process. If possible, find a physician the child knows or one who is particularly experienced in abuse cases.

Remember almost without exception, children do not lie about abuse, except to deny that it happened.

Remember also the trauma of abuse is long-lasting and not always apparent. When a child reports being abused, the process of recovery begins. The next step is to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities and begin the treatment of the child and, whenever possible, of the perpetrator.

The decision to report abuse is always difficult. Most sexual abuse, and virtually all physical and emotional abuse, involve someone known to the child. Interpersonal relationships and community considerations frequently bring hesitation to report.

At these times, it is to remember that the total responsibility for the offense lies with the offender. Reporting protects the child and may ultimately result in getting the offender professional help. A person who reports suspected abuse is not responsible for ruining the offender's life. The person who has the courage and takes the responsibility to report is saving a child and most probably others.

Any person who has knowledge or reason to believe that a child has been or is being abused is responsible to report to the 'Service de la Protection de la Jeunesse' on behalf of the child.

Anyone may report a suspected case of child abuse or child maltreatment. it is important to know that the law does not require certainty before reporting. Any suspected case should be reported. The law protects any person, official, or institution that makes a report in good faith (meaning an honest belief that a child is being abused).

While reporting child abuse can be difficult, if you do not act on behalf of the child, who will?

The degree of impact that abuse has on a child is determined by several factors:

1. The type and severity of the assault

2. The relationship of the offender to the child

3. The duration of the assault situation

4. The reaction of the people around the child after the assault is reported

5. Support available to the child which enables full recovery.

One of the most important things you can do to aid a child's recovery is to make sure the child knows the offender is responsible for what happened. Parents have a role to play, but a professional can also be very important in helping a child to resolve the many issues which arise following abuse.

It is not true that a child will forget the abuse if the adults do not talk about it nor allow the child to talk about it. The Incident is very real for the child and can color every aspect of his or her life, whether s/he talks about it or not. Supporting the child to complete the process of recovery should not be undervalued.

Another area of concern is treatment for abusers. This is particularly important with adolescent abusers. Teenagers who abuse others are beginning a lifelong pattern of abuse that can result in hundreds of children being abused. Intervention at the earliest possible time cannot be stressed enough and adolescence is the most successful moment for intervention.

It is left up to every individual or group to research local community resources for the protection of child abuse, i.e. Children’s hospital; Police Brigades, Protection & Health Services, etc. The following are just some contact addresses in Spain:

• The Minor's Advocate in Madrid · C/ Serrano 110, 28006 Madrid, Tel. 91-563-4411· email: defensor@dmenor-mad.es.
• People's Advocates in Spain:
  • Justicia de Aragón · C/ Don Juán de Aragón,7 · 50001 ZARAGOZA · Tlfno: 976.399354 · Fax: 976.394632
  • Diputado del Común · C/ O´Daly, 28 · 38700 Santa Cruz de la Palma, TENERIFE ·
    Tlfno: 922.416040 · Fax: 922.415228
  • Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz · C/ Reyes Católicos, 21 · 41001 SEVILLA · Tlfno: 954.212121 Fax: 954.214497
  • Procurador del Común · Plaza de San Marcos, Casa del Peregrino · 24001 LEÓN ·
    Tlfno: 987.270095 · Fax: 987.273141
  • Sindic de Greuges · Carrer Josep Anselm Clavé, 31 · 08002 BARCELONA ·
    Tlfno: 93.3018075 · Fax: 93.3013187
  • Adjunto a Sindic de Greuges · Pascual Blasco, 1 · 03001 ALICANTE · Tlfno: 96.5923733
    Fax: 96.5227050
  • Valedor de Pobo · Rua de Hórreo · 15071 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA · Tlfno: 981.571900 Fax: 981.572335
  • Ararteko · C/ Dato, 20, 2º · 01005 Vitoria-Gasteiz, ALAVA · Tlfno: 945.135118
    Fax: 945.135102

The following are some websites of interest on the topic:

• www.childnet-int.org
• www.familyguidebook.com
• www.unesco.org/webworld/child_screen/index.html
• www.unesco.org/webworld/innocence
• www.ecpat.net
• www.crin.org
• www.unicef.icdc.org
• www.unhchr.ch
• www.safechild.org
• www.casa-alianza.org/EN/human-rights/sexual-exploit/
• www.childrensinstitute.org/
• www.child-abuse.com/childhouse/childwatch/profiles/uklondon.html
• www.vrhome.com/icapo/index1.html
• www.calib.com/nccanch/
• www.boes.org/
• www.futurnet.es/info/p_i/
• www.acim.es/
• www.geocities.com/prevencion2/tesis.htm
• www.justicewomen.com/
• slaq.prw.net/abusos/index.htm
• www.66.40.99.143/abusoinfantil.htm
• www.woman.ch

Internet users who come across pornographic web sites should inform the police or other appropriate help centers who have the duty to stop the site and its origin.

More and more children, and especially through the schools, have access to Internet. We do not fight Internet but try to make it help us to protect children from dangerous sites not meant for their interaction. There exist to-date many filter programs which are especially designed software to filter, control and manage Internet access. Such filters allow to limit access to the Net at certain times of the day, or the entire time of surfing on the Net during one day, and especially restrict access to certain sites which are not meant for children.

Protection filters on the Net are one thing, however most of the contacts are made via "chat sites" and there the filters are useless. The best way is to have a trusting relationship with your child where a dialogue about his/her experience on the Net is natural. Ask the child to show you what he/she does, what he/she thinks, what he/she prefers on the Net and why.

The World Day is being observed in many different ways, in many different countries. Each participating organization is holding its activites according to its own capabilities and resources. The following is a partial listing of events:

AFRICA

• Cameroon - United Action for Children (UAC) plans radio programs, public debates, round tables, exhibitions, film projections, management of information systems, construction of poster panels as well as submitting a UAC policy statement on child abuse to the government.
• Chad – Association Jeunesse Anti-Clivage (AJAC) plans round tables and public debates with representatives of several Ministries, civil society, international organizations, press, etc.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) - The General Consulate of Kinshasa of the ‘first Mission for the Children in the world’ will organize a forum on the theme ‘the effects of war on the children of the RDC’.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) – Centre Chrétien pour la Protection de la Flore et de la Faune will organize activities uniting State and church authorities, and children and parents.
• Ghana - African Peace Network will organize a manifestation with school children carrying posters, and theatre plays to educate the public to end child abuse. Special recognition will be given to professionals and parents for significant initiatives.
• Kenya - Learning and Development Kenya will invite neighboring primary school children and teachers, the District Commissioner, senior Government officials and the press to mark the Day (songs, poems, and drawings prepared by the children are on the agenda).
• Nigeria - Child Defense Foundation will organize a press conference to expose the dangers of the use of children as domestic servants. Radio talks, debates and discussions by adults and children on topics of definition, cause, consequences and intervention strategies for child abuse in the Nigerian society are also planned. Proceedings of radio talks will be published.
• Nigeria – Christian Care Foundation will organize a Peace Walk in Lagos by school children and youth, NGOs and other groups to present signatures to the House of Assembly demanding enforcement of their fundamental Rights as contained in the Nigerian Constitution in conformity with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Gambia - Shelter for Children plans that the Canadian High Commissioner to the Gambia in Senegal will launch their ‘Children's Rights Handbook’.
• Togo - SOS Enfants Déshérités will organize a conference and a cultural evening for children.
• Togo – Organisation des Volontaires Acteurs du Developpement – Action Plus (OVAD-AP) will sensitize children, parents and teachers about child abuse (campaign: 9-19 November).

ASIA & PACIFIC

• Australia - PR & Events Pty Ltd organizes the 8th Australian Conference on Child Abuse & Neglect: 19 November - 22 November, linking the conference with the World Day. 200 papers will be presented.
• Bangladesh - National Federation of Youth Organisations in Bangladesh organizes a child rally, projection of children films, and a round table with representatives of children’s organizations.
• India – Save the Children plans discussions on different forms of violence and how to avoid victimization, as well as various competitions in schools, and how NGOs can raise awareness about the different forms of child abuse; to generate strategies to help prevention of abuse and ways to rehailitate abused children; to propagate the issue of child abuse and prevent victimization of children by working with networks of institutions; to organize a South Asian Conference to combat trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, bringing together partners from India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• India - SLARTC (Socio-Legal Aid Research & Training Center) will assemble adults and children to mark the Day.
• India – SOUP (Society for underprivileged people) will translate most of the World Fund for the Dignity of Children information including its program "Protecting children from abuse" into Hindi (the regional language) for mass distribution. SOUP created special earthen lamps which will be given to 2001 families to light in commemoration of the 19^th November at 7:00 PM.
• India - Youth Welfare Club plans public debates, seminars and workshops with other organizations, teachers and experts. School children will carry posters "Stop Child Labor / Child Abuse"

THE AMERICAS

• Argentina - Casa de la Mujer in collaboration with Indeso-Mujer and el Grupo Desde el pié translated the WWSF information for its network. Several organizations publish the Day in their newsletters and on web sites and organize a TV campaign. Moreover, three Parliament members are working to proclaim the Day as National Day in Argentina.
• Costa Rica - Fundación Paniamor organizes jointly with Save the Children Sweden a regional meeting with 20 NGOs and experts on the issue of family violence and child abuse (18 to 20 November) and major conferences, workshops to align criteria for prevention and intervention. A meeting with neighboring countries will focus on priority action. Participating countries include Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Paniamor is preparing a Declaration to have the Day be proclaimed a national Day in Costa Rica.
• Ecuador - Instituto Ecuatoriano de las Naciones Unidas de Investigaciones y Capacitación de la Mujer (IECAM - INSTRAW) plans to distribute a book "El Maltrato a la Niña en el Ecuador", an Institutional investigation.
• Peru – Centro de Investigación y Estudios Económicos, Educativos, Sociales y Culturales plans to organize workshops for media representatives (radio, TV, newspapers, magazines) and prepare a document for public and private institutions as well as a drawing competition in all urban and rural zones. A child walk will be launched.
• Paraguay – CEDAI (Centro de Asistencia Integral) adopted the WWSF poster to announce their activities in 19 November.

EUROPE

• Austria - the Organization ‘Prävention von Sexuellem Missbrauch und Gewalt’ organizes a conference and workshops in collaboration with the Vienna Network against sexual child abuse at the Volkshochschule Ottakring.
• France – the World Movement of Citizens to protect Innocence in Danger will join the Woimen’s World Summit Foundation in front of the UN in Geneva to demonstrate against the increasing danger of sexual child abuse including on the Internet. 300 concerned individuals from all over Europe will come to Geneva to join in the event, followed by a press conference and by a commemoration with speakers and music at the Temple de Fusterie.
• Spain - The World Association of Early Childhood Educators will publish the handbook "Protecting Children from Abuse" in its website, in English and Spanish, and will send a special bulletin to its more than 15.000 suscribers on the issue. Every issue of its weekly bulletin during the month of November will feature a special story and specialized links.
• Switzerland – Fondation pour la Recherche des Enfants Disparus par Internet (FREDI) plans an interdisciplinary day by and for children to sensitize public opinion about children’s rights and child abuse: children’s drawings will be shown in shop windows, prizes will be given for writing competitions, texts and comic strips about the Convention on the Rights of the Child, music and play.
• Switzerland - International Council of Nurses (ICN) disseminates information of its policy statement on the Rights of the Child, child labor, the elimination of female genital mutilation, and the Girl Child. Throughout its national associations in 124 countries ICN distributes fact sheets training materials to governments, NGOs and others to combat child abuse in all its forms.
• Switzerland - Institut International des Droits de l'Enfant mentions the World Day on its Internet platform and on-line newspaper as the event of the month. It plans to go to Burma (12-15 November) to deal with child exploitation and distribute WWSF's information.
• Switzerland – Women’s World Summit Foundation WWSF organizes a two-day workshop on how to create community ‘Circles of Compassion’ as well as a public manifestation in front of the UN in Geneva to remind Governments of their ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and call on all citizens to integrate protection and preventions skills in their education of children.

The Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. Sherryll Kraizer, author of The Safe Child Program, for granting copy right of "Protecting Children from Abuse. Dr. Kraizer is internationally recognized for her prevention curricula, creating models for maximizing community-wide participation in prevention efforts and her research on program effectiveness, including what methods effect actual behavioral change associated with reduction of risk. Dr. Kraizer is Executive Director of the Coalition for Children and Member of the World Fund for the Dignity of Children. WWSF is reproducing and disseminating her program on 'protecting children from abuse' via its worldwide network of women's and children's organizations.