The Autism Hero Project (AHP)’s Post

This is not good enough. 1 report. 75 pages. 5 themes. 29 measures. 9 year timeframe and here we are, 3 years down and losing one of the most passionate, determined, committed, and important voices. Support for non-offending family members is scarce, advocacy in this space is limited, and as we wait for a national service for non-offending family members we risk losing this one. While bigger organisations and government departments may also be experiencing delays, it is the grassroots community organisations that will be unable to sustain themselves. We all know the cost of generational trauma, we all understand the long term impact for a child that has been abused by a family member, we all know that one of the most effective ways of supporting a child who has been sexually abused is to provide support and help for the non-offending family members. So why hasn’t the funding come through? The non-offending family members are left behind on possibly the worst day of their lives, their family in pieces, the guilt and responsibility they feel weighing heavily on them, and they lack knowledge of where to turn to for support, support that is already limited. How can we safeguard our children when we do not prioritise these services. #partnerspeak

I participated in a training session focused on addressing sexual violence among older adults. While my previous understanding of sexual violence largely centred on children and adults, this training offered me a fresh perspective by shedding light on the impact of such violence on older individuals. In terms of addressing sexual violence disclosures from older persons, several procedural steps can be taken: Listen and Validate: Begin by attentively listening to the older person's disclosure and validating their experience. Creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial for encouraging them to share their story comfortably. Believe and Support: It's essential to express belief in the survivor's account and offer support. Affirming their courage in coming forward can validate their experience and empower them to seek assistance. Ensure Safety: Assess the survivor's immediate safety needs and take necessary measures to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. This may involve providing access to a safe environment, medical care, or crisis intervention services. Respect Autonomy: Respect the survivor's autonomy and involve them in decision-making regarding the next steps. Provide information about available support services and legal options, but allow the survivor to guide the process based on their preferences. Offer Support Services: Connect the survivor with appropriate support services, including counselling, advocacy, and legal assistance. Ensure access to trauma-informed care tailored to the unique needs of older survivors. Report and Document: If the survivor consents, assist them in reporting the sexual violence to relevant authorities while adhering to organizational protocols and legal requirements. Document the disclosure and relevant information. Follow-Up and Continued Support: Follow up with the survivor to ensure they continue to receive support and assistance. Offer ongoing support, advocacy, and referrals as needed to facilitate their recovery process. By adhering to these procedural steps with sensitivity and respect, social workers can effectively support older survivors of sexual violence and help them navigate the complexities of disclosure and recovery.

Landmark new research from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) offers important insights on the identity and nature of child sexual abuse and its perpetrators. Critically, the study found that 28.5% of Australians experienced sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. While understanding the scope of this epidemic is vital, the study offers a more nuanced picture of the problem, categorising the identity of the perpetrator and the nature of the abuse in order to inform targeted and effective prevention efforts. While child sexual abuse by adults has always been and remains a major problem, ACMS found it has declined. This is an immense achievement, driven by the tireless work of organisations, individuals and prevention programs. Worryingly, child sexual abuse by adolescents has increased. The majority is inflicted against girls by male adolescents the victim knew. This indicates a contemporary normalisation of sexual violence, driven by a lack of empathy, a desire for immediate sexual gratification, and male sexual entitlement. While it is horrifying to hear of increased perpetration, we know that preventative efforts directed towards teens have great potential. “Effective implementation of [mandated consent education in the national curriculum], and mature engagement in this conversation by parents and wider society, will be pivotal to reducing child sexual abuse. This is particularly necessary given the constant battle between positive healthy relationships education and the media consumed by teens in TV, movies, social media and pornography that promote problematic attitudes to gender and sexuality.” Read the full article from Teach Us Consent Founder Chanel Contos and Professor Ben Mathews. https://lnkd.in/g96tiqwr

Our Head of Content and Operations, Sophie Banks attended the Kids First Australia Child Sexual Abuse & Harmful Sexual Behaviours National Conference 2024 ⤵ Why? 💡 Because ChildAware is committed to ensuring that our product embeds the latest research and understandings about child abuse prevention into practical actions that organisations can take to be child-safe. 🗨 She reports that Day 1 had an excellent line-up of speakers addressing the latest, evidence-based research and practice around protecting children from child sexual abuse. Here are some of her key take-aways: ⚪ 94% of Australian 4-year-olds have access to an internet connected device (Executive Manager Investigations, Bryan Downie, eSafety Commissioner) which means prevention and education must start in the early years ⚪ Children as young as eight are being exposed to explicit content online and there is an associated increase in sexually harmful behaviour in children (Jackie Batemen, General Manager Prevention and Recovery, Kidsfirst) ⚪ The average age of children experiencing peer based sexual harassment is 11 years of age (Gabrielle Hunt, PhD Candidate and Research Assistant, ACU) ⚪ Adolescent sexual abuse has increased - known adolescents are the most common offenders (above parents/carers) (Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies) ⚪ Given online threats, consent education, and broader preventative sex and relationships education, especially for boys is critical (Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies) ⚪ Sibling sexual abuse is 3x more prevalent than parental sexual abuse and needs more attention (Carol Ronken (on the lands of the Kombumerri people), Director of Research, Bravehearts) ⚪ LGBTQIA+ children and young people are vastly more at risk of experiencing all forms of child maltreatment than other children (Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies) ⚪ Adults understand and experience safety in different ways to children - we need to better attune to children, in order to protect them (A/Prof Tim Moore, Deputy Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies) ⚪ 17% of young people reported that a school staff member probably wouldn't believe them if they raised a safety issue, and 22% felt that adults wouldn't see it as their job to do something (research by A/Prof Tim Moore, Deputy Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies) These are sobering but important insights which will continue to inform our work. 👏 Thank you Kids First Australia for putting together such an incredible conference and for the incredible work that you do for children and young people. #childsafety #childsafeguarding #childsexualabuse

Gender equality

Beyond the individual suffering, underreported GBV has a ripple effect on society.  Survivors may struggle to work due to physical or emotional trauma, reducing their economic contribution and placing a strain on healthcare systems. Secondly, Children exposed to GBV are more likely to experience or perpetuate violence in their own lives, perpetuating a cycle of abuse and GBV is linked to increased mental health issues, substance abuse and risky sexual behaviour, impacting overall public health. By acknowledging the true scope of GBV, we can invest in preventative measures, support services and perpetrator rehabilitation programs, ultimately saving lives and fostering a safer, healthier society.

Had the pleasure of co-authoring this piece in The Conversation Australia + NZ with Ben Mathews to discuss the findings from the 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study. It shows that child sexual abuse by adults is decreasing, and child sexual abuse by adolescents has risen. This means our prevention efforts against adult perpetration are working and should be continued. It also highlights a contemporary normalisation of sexual violence in younger age groups. "It is horrifying to learn of continued adult-perpetrated child sexual abuse and increased teen-on-teen sexual violence. But this evidence provides an opportunity for those involved in its prevention and the community to reduce sexual violence in the next generation. Prevention efforts directed towards teens have great preventive potential. Much child sexual abuse by teens is influenced by lack of empathy, a desire for immediate sexual gratification, and male sexual entitlement. This is obviously not to demonise all young adolescent males, as the data indicate most do not inflict sexual violence. However, increased child sexual abuse perpetration by males in this age group highlights a contemporary normalisation of sexual violence. This shows there is still a long way to go in teaching young people about respectful relationships." Teach Us Consent Full article here: https://lnkd.in/eNkSzWzs

🖊️ Do you work with families where a child is at risk of sexual harm? Here are some discussion points from our #FaithfullPaper to guide you through protective parenting assessments. ✅ For more info: https://lnkd.in/eiZ_uS3v #ProtectiveParenting ________________________________________________________________________ Alt text: Image 1: A graphic of ‎text that says '‎What to discuss with a Protective Parent Current contexts Understanding sexual abuse Engagement General parenting Safeguarding Support‎'‎‎ The LUCY FAITHFULL FOUNDATION logo is in the top right corner. Image 2: A graphic of text that says 'What to discuss with a Protective Parent Current contexts What is going on in their lives and what would be the impact on them and their children? Are they able to engage in child protection processes and are there any specific support needs? Engagement' The LUCY FAITHFULL FOUNDATION logo is in the top right corner. Image 3: A graphic of text that says 'What to discuss with a Protective Parent Understanding sexual abuse Do they have good general insight into the risks posed to children around sexual abuse? Do they prioritise their children and do the children feel able to come to discuss their problems and receive appropriate responses? General parenting‎'‎‎ The ‎LUCY FAITHFULL FOUNDATION logo is in the top right corner. Image 4: A graphic of text that says 'What to discuss with a Protective Parent Safeguarding Do they understand how to safeguard children from sexual harm and is the home environment stable and safe for the children? What support do they have in place and what additional support or interventions would be helpful to them? Support' The LUCY FAITHFULL FOUNDATION logo is in the top right corner.

Every child deserves to grow up safe, and at Arpan, we're committed to making that a reality. We're proud to have contributed to the development of Building Safe Futures: Solutions to End Childhood Sexual Violence, with Dr Manjeer Mukherjee, our Senior Director of Strategic Operations, providing key insights as part of this collaborative global effort. This document reviews the latest evidence and highlights actionable strategies to prevent child sexual violence—especially in low- and middle-income countries. It offers solutions that can protect millions of children worldwide. As a global leader in the fight against child sexual abuse, Arpan is dedicated to sharing knowledge and learning from others in the field. Our involvement in the process and endorsement of the report reflect our belief that collective action and shared expertise can drive meaningful change. Take the next step—download the Building Safe Futures report and share it with those in your network. By spreading awareness and supporting the implementation of these solutions, you can help protect children and contribute to a world free from sexual violence. Download link - https://lnkd.in/d62ePUNq #SafeFuturesHub #BuildingSafeFutures #EndChildhoodSexualViolence #SVRIForum2024 Together for Girls WeProtect Global Alliance Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Brave Movement Butterflies NGO IMAGINA Centro de Investigación Child Helpline International Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network Child Rights International Network - CRIN DeafKidz International ECPAT International International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Collaborative MOORE | Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Fundación Red por la Infancia Save the Children International Terre des hommes foundation Wangu Kanja Foundation World Childhood Foundation World Council of Churches World Vision Counsel to Secure Justice Child Rights Clinic Oak Foundation

"Breaking the Silence: Uniting Against Sexual Violence and Child Abuse" Reflecting on a meaningful Sunday afternoon spent with my dear friend Jane Houng, who recently returned from her courageous advocacy mission in Lebanon, Athens, and Jordan, shedding light on the pervasive epidemic of sexual violence against women and young girls. The haunting shadow of sexual violence casts a long and oppressive veil over our society, impacting the lives of countless women and girls. Shockingly, statistics reveal that 1 in 3 women globally has faced physical or sexual violence, often perpetrated by individuals they trust the most. The profound impact of sexual violence on survivors' mental health cannot be overstated. Research shows a significant link between experiences of sexual violence and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts. Empowering women and girls with self-defense tools is crucial, yet insufficient. It is essential to broaden our focus to include men in the conversation. Educating boys from a young age on the importance of respecting boundaries and understanding consent is key to addressing the root cause of sexual violence. Studies emphasize the need to engage men in discussions around toxic masculinity and promote a culture of respect and equality. By engaging men as allies in the fight against sexual violence, we can initiate lasting behavioral changes that contribute to a safer society for all. As we delve into the deep-seated implications of sexual violence, it becomes apparent that child abuse is intricately linked to this issue. The harsh reality of child abuse is closely intertwined with the broader spectrum of violence against women. The recent enactment of the Mandatory Child Abuse Bill in Hong Kong (https://lnkd.in/gM6RJYup) represents not only a significant legislative achievement but also a belated recognition of our collective negligence in safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community. Studies have shown that individuals who experience childhood abuse are at a heightened risk of encountering sexual violence later in life. The trauma inflicted by childhood abuse not only leaves lasting scars on survivors but also predisposes them to a cycle of violence and victimization. This intergenerational perpetuation of abuse underscores the urgent need for comprehensive intervention and prevention strategies to break the cycle and protect future generations. It is imperative that we adopt a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of these issues. By addressing the root causes, providing support to survivors, and implementing robust prevention measures. Let us stand united in our commitment to break the chains of abuse. TALK hong kong Center For Positive Psychology & Wellbeing Women In Sports Empowered Hong Kong (睿動香港) The Women's Foundation WIFA #EndChildAbuse #beckybutton #EndSexualViolence #StandUpForJustice