12 April 2019 | Article de blogue

Preventing sexual violence

Sexual violence prevention consists mainly of opening the lines of communication with children about sexuality, teaching them self-protection skills and helping them identify trusted adults around them. However, prevention cannot rely solely on children’s ability to master self-protection skills. Adults must also protect them.

Learning to protect yourself

It is important to remind children that grown-ups are not allowed to do certain things to children:

1. Nobody is allowed to touch your private parts.

2. Nobody is allowed to look at your private parts.

3. Nobody is allowed to kiss you on your private parts.

4. Nobody is allowed to take pictures of your private parts.

What are private parts?

Remind your child that these are the parts of their body that are covered by their underwear or bathing suit.

Learning to protect yourself

Remind your child that nobody is allowed to ask them to touch, look at, kiss or take pictures of their private parts, even if:

The child finds it funny.
The person tells them it’s a secret or that they shouldn’t talk about it.
It’s with a person the child loves.
The person tells the child it’s a game.

The only times a grown-up can touch and look at your private parts is when:

The child goes to the doctor.
The child needs help to wipe themselves in the bathroom.
The child needs help washing in the bathtub.
The parent needs to check when the child’s private parts are itchy or sore.
The child seems to have a fever and the parent needs to take their temperature. It is very important to explain to your child what to do if a person does something or asks them to do something they aren’t allowed to do.

Explain how to react if a person does something they’re not allowed to do to the child.

You need to self-affirm.

Self-affirming means telling others what you like and don’t like. It also means asking others to respect you.

You need to leave.

Leave the room and go to a place where there are other people. Go find your parent, your teacher or any other trusted adult.

You need to talk with a trusted adult about what happened.

It may happen that you weren’t able to say “NO!” or “STOP!” or that you weren’t able to leave the room. If that happens, it’s not your fault. You need to talk about it to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You’re brave for being able to talk about it.

Explain to your child what a trusted adult is.

What is a trusted adult?

Suggested response
A trusted adult is an adult you feel good with. It’s someone you like to see, who makes you smile and who can help you when you have a problem. Help your child identify trusted adults around them, including beyond the family circle.