7 Ways to Protect Your Girl Child Against Sexual Abuse

Today is International girl child day, 2019 and the focus is on preventing sexual abuse among young girls. Of all the things we can teach our young girls that safety should be the priority. As parents and family members, it is important that we prepare our young girls to prevent sexual abuse.

According to CDC reports, 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before they turn 18. What’s scarier is that only about 10% of such sexual perpetrators were strangers to the victim and 23% of them were children themselves!

Here’s what you can do to help them avoid sexual abuse:

1. Enlighten them about body parts as early as possible- Start at a very early age to name their body parts. You could use proper names and also explain to them what they mean. Feeling comfortable using those words and knowing what they mean can help a young girl talk clearly during the times of any mishaps.

2. Tell your girls that some of their body parts are private- It is important to discuss private parts, why they are named ‘private’ (because they are not to be seen or touched by anyone else). Establish the fact that only their parents can see them naked and anyone outside the home should only see them with their clothes on. Also, tell them that doctors can see them naked during check-ups when their parents are around.

3. Make them set body boundaries- Inform them casually that nobody should be touching their private parts and that no one should be asking them to touch someone else's private parts either. Most sexual abuses often begin with the perpetrator asking a child to touch them. Thus, do not forget to tell them that asking them to touch someone else isn’t appropriate.

4. Make it clear that keeping body secrets is not okay- Perpetrators usually tell the child to keep the abuse a secret. They should understand that no matter what someone tells them, keeping body secrets is totally wrong and they should always report it to the parents if anyone tried to make them keep a body secret.

5. Tell them not to allow anyone to take pictures of their private parts- Most parents often miss this one. There is a big sick world out of pedophiles that enjoy taking and trading pictures of naked kids online. So, tell your kids that nobody should ever take pictures of their naked selves or of their private parts.

6. Teach them how to escape a scary or uncomfortable situation- Some kids are not uncomfortable saying ‘NO’ to people, especially to older ones. Say that it is completely okay to refuse or ask an elderly person to leave if they feel that something wrong is happening. Teach them to say words to escape such uncomfortable situations.

7. Keep a code word for your girls to use, while in danger- They can use the code word at home when there are guests or when they are on a sleepover.

Also, it is important to tell them the difference between a ‘good touch’ and a ‘bad touch”. It could be confusing sometimes since a bad touch might feel good or just tickly and might not be hurting. Name it a 'secret touch' and make them tell you if it happens. Also, tell them that perpetrators could be anyone- even children and that they should follow the above-mentioned even in such cases.