Helping to to prevent child sexual abuse
It is a difficult subject to discuss, but parents play an important role in safeguarding their children from child sexual abuse. Understanding the importance of open communication with your child, educating yourselves on spotting the warning signs of child sexual abuse, knowing who to contact if you are concerned and knowing where to go to get help are essential in order to keep your child or young person safe.
Talk PANTS helps children understand that their body belongs to them, and they should tell someone they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.
Talk PANTS with Pantosaurus and his PANTS song #TalkPANTS (youtube.com)
Parents Protect – This website from Stop It Now! supports parents and carers to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The Internet Watch Foundation in conjunction with the NSPCC has developed a tool to help young people get nude images or videos removed from the internet.
New tool empowers children and young people to stop spread of nude images online | IWF
Are you concerned about a young person or child’s sexual behaviour around other children? Does a child you know do or say things you feel are inappropriate or that make you uncomfortable? Has a child you know taken sexual exploration too far? Or do you know a child with sexual behaviour problems online?
Stop it now provides information and support if you are worried about a child or young persons sexual behaviour.
Worried about a young person or child’s sexual behaviour – Stop It Now
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation provides information and support for people troubled by their sexual thoughts about children and young people. Their website aims to help people to cope with unwanted feelings and urges; and offers guidance about how to manage problematic behaviour.
Get support website for people worried about offline offending | The Lucy Faithfull Foundation
Stop it now Helpline – Supports adults who are unsure or worried about their own sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children, or the behaviour of someone they know (adults or children).
The things I wish my parents had known draws together advice from 16-21-year-olds on how parents should manage tricky conversations around sexual harassment and access to inappropriate content, including pornography. No child should have to stumble across harmful content online, and my office is taking action to try and tackle this issue. But, in the meantime I wanted to provide support and guidance for parents now on how to support your child if they do come across harmful content online.
Under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS) the police can tell parents, carers and guardians if someone has a record for child sexual offences.
The scheme is also known as Sarah’s Law, after 8-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered in 2000 by a convicted sex offender.
The aim of this scheme is to keep children safe.
Information on how to apply under the scheme can be found on gov.co.uk website.