You Put Kids at Risk When You Ignore THIS
Yesterday, The Chronicle Herald printed an article about a prison sentence handed to a father who was found guilty of sexually assaulting his 16 year-old daughter.
When situations like this become headlines and news stories, we take notice. At Priority Kids, we are on a mission to eradicate childhood sexual abuse and understanding how childhood sexual abuse is perceived helps us to tailor our message of prevention.
Because we know something that most people don’t seem to recognize.
Childhood Sexual Abuse has Devastating Consequences
and
It's PREVENTABLE
This particular news article picks up on the devastating consequences. While it is difficult to let the impact sink in, we want to honour the victim/survivor of this abuse.
She is not alone in her suffering.
It's not easy, but I ask you to read what Justice Pierre Muise said about the consequences of this abuse.
"It has been about three and a half years since the offence and its impacts are still having a devastating effect…”
“It has robbed her of what should have been exciting and joyful teenage years… By all appearances, those effects can be expected to continue for a significant period of time.”
Is this what we want for children? To spend years experiencing devastating effects? A childhood robbed. Ongoing effects for a significant period of time?
Of course we don’t want this for any child. But it is a reality that sexual abuse impacts MANY children.
34% of them
Robbed of exciting and joyful years.
Experiencing devastating effects.
For a significant period of time.
News reports of childhood sexual abuse are like the tips of an iceberg. This report is about one child. But think about the ripple effects of one child who is suffering. One child who is not able to experience theirexciting and joyful years. What is left in the absence of excitement and joy?
Despair. Depression. Anxiety. These are some possibilities.
The article quotes the victim’s impact statement, read in court she states that she is,
“tired of feeling helpless, broken, used and betrayed.”
Helpless
Broken
Used
Betrayed
Times 34% of all children in Canada
This is the lived experience of 3.4 out of 10 children in Canada.
Ask any teacher what a difference it makes when one student is disruptive. One challenging student has a huge impact on the culture of the classroom. One student can create frustration and challenges, consuming attention and resources, impacting the other students and the entire class’s ability to enjoy their school day.
We are ALL impacted when 34% of children are suffering.
Every single person is impacted by childhood sexual abuse. It creates interpersonal challenges, relationship challenges, and behaviour challenges. It contributes to delinquent behaviour, poverty, violence and a culture saturated with distrust.
Anxiety. Depression. Teen pregnancy.
The suffering of one child seeps into the world in devastating ways.
Did we mention that it is PREVENTABLE?
All of this suffering can be avoided.
Childhood sexual abuse occurs at the astonishing rate of 34% because we have not yet acknowledged that it is our responsibility to prevent it from happening.
It is a responsibility that exceeds all other responsibilities. There is no experience, skill, lesson or gift that is worth sharing with a child if it puts them at risk of being sexually abused.
There is no activity that is worth the risk of leaving a child feeling helpless, broken, used and betrayed.
There is no skill that a child needs to be taught that is worth the risk of them being robbed of exciting and joyful years.
Our obligation to children is to raise them in an environment, in a community and in a family that makes every possible effort to protect them from this horrific experience that causes devastating effects.
And the great news is that we absolutely can do this. We can keep kids safe from sexual abuse.
We can implement child sexual abuse prevention policies in organizations and teach adults how to protect children. It isn’t difficult. It isn’t expensive. And it is proven to work.
When we first began working in child sexual abuse prevention our Canadian national statistics were the same as the statistics used in the United States.
Our training program, developed in the US (and delivered in 78 countries), has been successfully implemented in organizations, regions and entire State initiatives. 10 years later, researchers in the US have documented a decrease in prevalence. They have gone from sharing our staggering statistics to reducing rates of abuse to about 10%. Still a number that is too large, but a significant improvement.
We can do the same here in Canada. Actually, we have to.
It is our moral and ethical duty to keep kids safe. This epidemic of childhood sexual abuse can be resolved.
Working with organizations to implement training and best practices has given us tremendous hope. A small investment to train staff and volunteers who work with children transforms communities and families.
It's understandable that people have not known how to keep kids safe in the past. But it is not acceptable for us to continue to ignore what is understood, documented, and proven.
Childhood Sexual Abuse has Devastating Consequences
and
It's PREVENTABLE.
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If the content of this article causes you distress or discomfort, please seek support.
Where to get help in Nova Scotia
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
Book a trainer for your staff and volunteersBook a speaker to share this message