During this Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let's not forget our children. According to a 2019 UNICEF report, one in five girls and one in seven boys experience sexual violence, and one in three females in Malawi define their first sexual experience as non-consensual. This startling reality highlights the urgent need for increased awareness, prevention efforts, and victim support.
Sexual Assault is defined as sexual contact or behavior that cooccurs without explicit consent of the victim, some examples include fondling or unwanted sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts and rape.
Children are particularly vulnerable to different forms of abuse, including sexual assault. It is a known fact that our culture considers talking about sex-related topics, especially to children a taboo. Which is very harmful because most children grow up not knowing what constitutes sexual assault, how to spot it, or where to report it. Starting conversations about safety with children while they are young has proven to be an extremely effective of assisting in identifying , reporting and reducing cases of sexual assault in children.
In our homes,children are often warned and taught against opening doors for strangers when home-alone or taking gifts from strangers, but rarely are they warned and taught about being inappropriately touched or talked to by adults. While it is crucial to underline that victims of sexual assault are never to blame, it is also important to remember that we, as a community, have an obligation to create a safer world for children, and we can start by:
Educating children about consent and appropriate boundaries. It is critical for parents and guardians to teach children from a young age that saying NO to something they are uncomfortable with is perfectly acceptable. Children must be educated about their rights, consent, and how to create boundaries in and outside their homes. They must also be educated on what to do or where to report if their boundaries are violated.
Teaching children about their body parts and explaining why certain aspects of their bodies are deemed private. It is critical for children to recognize and name their bodily parts; when children have words to describe their body parts, they may find it simpler to ask or express concerns about them. Every child must understand that no one is allowed to touch or look at them in the absence of a guardian.
Fostering open conversation with trusted adults and fostering a safe environment for sharing. Talk to the children about keeping secrets; abusers will frequently quiet children by using secret keeping to take advantage of them. Let children know that they can always talk to you, especially if they have been told to keep something hidden. Guardians and parents must create an environment in which children feel safe talking to them about anything without fear of being punished or silenced. Furthermore, professionals in sectors that work with children, such as schools or hospitals, must consider how to make themselves approachable to children.
Together, we can create a world where every child is safe!
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