ARPAN’s Post

When talking about domestic and family violence, do you include sexual abuse? This abhorrent behaviour was perpetrated against me as a child over many years, yet there is still limited conversation about it in the domestic and family violence conversations. This is why my keynote speaking highlights the impact and why we must have conversations, particularly with children. In order to prevent ongoing abuse, we must address it, education is the key. Does your school or organisation have these discussions and if not why not? Send through your feedback. It is time to promote the impact of sexual abuse and how it impacts victims lives, especially children.

In curbing the increasing rate of Child Sexual Abuse, we must not only educate and sensitize the parents, teachers (adults) on safety measures to employ in safeguarding their children or minors, we must as a necessity seek for child-friendly approaches to educate children even as young as 3years. It is important and extremely necessary to arm the children with age- appropriate information on body parts, body boundaries, reporting measures, how to say 'no', etc. Research has it that children who do know and can identify their private body parts are; 1)less likely to be sexually abused 2)bold in confronting intending abusers by shouting"No! bad touch" 3)bold to accurately report abuse if it occurs Therefore, I do recommend this beautiful and educating resource for children between the ages of 3-9 years as a tool to educate and hence, prevent Child Sexual Abuse. Do check it out: selar.co/9pak #savethechildren #unicef

'Arpan has been addressing the issue of Child Sexual Abuse for 17 years now. We have found that when we teach our children personal safety skills we are able to prevent Child Sexual Abuse', says Pooja Taparia , Arpan's Founder and CEO. In a recent study, we saw that when children said 'No' to unsafe touches and situations, in 45% of the incidents, sexual abuse was averted. Wouldn't you agree that teaching children to say 'No' is, therefore, critical?  This Child Safety Week, come, let's teach children to say 'No' to unsafe touches and situations. Let's also join them in saying ‘No’! #ChildSafetyWeek  #ItsOkayToSayNo  #ProtectEveryChild #safechildhood #breakthesilence #endchildabuse #speakoutforkids #PreventCSA #ChildSafetyFirst #NoMoreSilence #SafeKidsIndia #awarenessforchange

Child abuse is a deeply concerning issue that can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. While it's difficult to pinpoint a single reason for the increase in reported cases of child abuse, several factors may contribute to this troubling trend: 1. Increased Awareness: Greater awareness and understanding of child abuse and its various forms may lead to more individuals recognising and reporting instances of abuse. Awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and media coverage may also play a role in raising public consciousness about the importance of safeguarding children. 2. Changes in Reporting Practices: Changes in reporting practices within institutions such as schools, healthcare facilities, and social services may result in more cases being identified and reported to authorities. Improved training for professionals on recognising signs of abuse and mandatory reporting laws may also contribute to increased reporting rates. 3. Societal Stressors: Socioeconomic stressors, such as poverty, unemployment, housing instability, and substance abuse, can place significant strain on families and increase the risk of child abuse. Economic hardships and social inequalities may exacerbate stressors within households, leading to heightened tensions and a greater likelihood of abusive behaviour. 4. Digital Technology: The widespread use of digital technology and social media platforms may introduce new risks for child abuse, including online grooming, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. The anonymity and accessibility afforded by digital platforms can make it easier for perpetrators to target and exploit children. 5. Fragmentation of Communities: Changes in community structures and social support systems may contribute to a lack of cohesive support networks for families facing challenges. Disconnection from traditional community supports, such as extended family, neighbours, and religious institutions, can leave vulnerable families isolated and without access to resources or assistance. 6. Mental Health Issues: Mental health issues, including stress, depression, substance abuse, and unresolved trauma, can increase the likelihood of abusive behaviour within families. Individuals struggling with their mental health may have difficulty coping with stressors and may be more prone to engaging in harmful behaviours towards their children. Addressing the complex factors contributing to the increase in child abuse requires a multifaceted approach, including robust prevention efforts, early intervention strategies, access to supportive services for families, and comprehensive policies aimed at protecting children and promoting their well-being. By addressing the root causes of child abuse and prioritising the safety and welfare of children, we can work towards creating safer and more nurturing environments for all children. #MTICBIAI #MyTraumaIsChronicButIAmIconic #PreventChildAbuse #SpeakOutAgainstAbuse

This is a good question that needs to be investigated to find the answer. Utilizing history, applying criminology, economics, evolution, neuroscience, psychology, sociology, victimiology to detriangulate bad behavior based on origination of thought processes within city, county, continents,country, states, parishes, handed down for generations as societal norms, and the evolutionary thought process of change concerning acceptable norms.

This Session has great techniques to overcome abuse

awareness with creativity at its best..

The services who are supposed to work together to safeguard children don’t. Education, Health. Social Care & Police need to hold Team Around the Child meetings but they don’t. The police computer systems and DBS systems are archaic. There should be one police/DBS UK system, where the abusers flag up wherever they are hiding in the UK and abroad. Their passports should be microchipped so they can’t travel the world potentially abusing children wherever they settle down. At present the cyber/sexual predators can easily hack into the systems and interfere with police and DBS records. Tech abuse is as prevalent as the child abuse, all the abusers have to do at present is move from borough to borough and the cycle of power and child exploitation continues. Also there’s the billions of pounds child exploitation makes these abusers that they can easily bribe, threaten and corrupt protection public servants. The Maggie Oliver Foundation HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum BBC News Dr Jessica Taylor NSPCC Refuge

My work takes me to various places like schools, communities, police stations, other NGO's and the list goes on.. It includes interacting with children from all age groups about private body parts, safe, unsafe touch, no-go-tell, child sexual abuse, pocso act, etc. The sessions we conduct includes age appropriate content. Also sessions for teachers and parents are being conducted to make them aware about child sexual abuse, how to be aware as a parent/teacher, keep your child safe, what are the do's and don'ts in such situations, etc. The response that I get is positively overwhelming. Always trying my best to keep children safe and help them to become survivors.. #childsexualabuse #pocsoact #safeunsafetouch #awarenessprogram #trainingprograms

The life lessons given to us by our parents, like "stranger danger," may not be as relevant in today's world. “Stranger danger” ignores the fact that most children are abused by someone in their circle of trust. Avoiding strangers is not the solution when the abuser is a neighbor, family member, or family friend. Teach children that strangers could be dangerous, but keep in mind that only 10% of abusers are strangers. Continuous learning and education are vital for preventing child sexual abuse and dispelling long-standing misconceptions. #EndChildAbuse #EducationMatters #PreventionIsKey