What I can Do

Never feel scared to the tell the truth if someone is hurting you. Even if it is a grown up, they can be wrong. Remember it is never your fault that someone is hurting you. Keeping secrets is not always a good thing. If you ever feel upset about something and even if someone has told you to keep it a secret, you must tell someone you trust. It will make you feel better and will help the person you tell explain to the person who is hurting you, what they are doing is wrong.

Whenever someone is touching you, you should always say 'no' as your body is your own, and you should never be forced into doing anything. Make sure you go to a safe place if you can, so you can avoid seeing or meeting the person who is hurting you. Do not be scared to tell an adult you trust to report this to the police. The person who is hurting you is doing something wrong. By telling a trusted adult - your parents, or a guardian or a school teacher, you are very brave because you can stop the person hurting you from hurting other children like you, including your friends or cousins.

Remember the following rule “ASAP”:

Anyone – Anyone could hurt you, not only strangers. Just because it is an uncle or a teacher that you like, it does not mean that what they are doing to you is right.

Secrets – A secret can be shared with an adult that you trust. If someone is telling you to keep a secret about touching you, you must definitely tell an adult whom you trust.

Action – Take Action. You will not get into trouble for telling. The adult whom you choose to tell will take the right action, and will protect you from further harm.

Private – Your private parts are yours.

What to do if your friend is being abused

Even if you are not being touched or hurt, but you see that your friend is being touched in private areas and is embarrassed, you can still do something! Do not be afraid to tell them to speak to their parents or another grown up they trust. Tell to them to try and stay away from the person who is hurting them. Explain to your friend that the person who is hurting them and touching them is wrong.

If they are too scared to tell their parents, do not be afraid to tell your parents or a grown up that you know and trust even if your friend has told you not to tell anyone. Remember you are only trying to help them and by telling a grown up, the person who is hurting your friend can be stopped. Once you have told a grown up, you can also ask him/her to report this to the police as child sexual abuse is a crime and the person who is hurting your friend or cousin should be punished.

Remember the following rule “ASAP”:

Anyone – Anyone could hurt you, not only strangers. Just because it is an uncle or a teacher that you like, it does not mean that what they are doing to you is right.

Secrets – A secret can be shared with an adult that you trust. If someone is telling you to keep a secret about touching you, you must definitely tell an adult whom you trust.

Action – Take Action. You will not get into trouble for telling. The adult whom you choose to tell will take the right action, and will protect you from further harm.

Private – Your private parts are yours.