Lucy Faithfull Foundation statement on The Lancet report

03 December 2008

This statement is issued by Donald Findlater, director of research and development with child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. Mr Findlater is also director of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s campaigning arm Stop it Now! UK and Ireland.

“At least one in 10 children experience abuse – so what’s new?

“Child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation welcomes the attention a new report published in The Lancet today brings to raise awareness in this field.

“Today’s report states that one in 10 youngsters in high-income countries experience abuse, including sexual abuse.

“It is disappointing though, that both media and public reaction to this is surprise, shock and even bewilderment.

“In 2002 Lucy Faithfull Foundation launched Stop it Now! UK and Ireland, a public education and awareness raising campaign aimed at helping all adults play their part in preventing child sexual abuse.

“Research from the NSPCC (Child Maltreatment in the UK, 2000) had evidences that as many as one in six children experienced some form of sexual abuse before they reached the age of 16. Most of this abuse was not reported and most was committed by a person known to and trusted by the youngster – often a family members or close family friend.

“Unlike other forms of abuse, the parents of sexual abuse victims are often not the perpetrator, and whilst some collude, most do not know or recognise that abuse is taking place. Most would not know what to do if they did suspect sexual abuse.

“Since 2002, the Stop it Now! helpline – which is funded by the Ministry of Justice – has taken more than 12,000 calls from adults across the UK who are worried about child sexual abuse.

“40% of those calls came from men worried about their own thoughts or behaviours towards children; 35% came from women – often mothers – worried about the sexual behaviour of another adult (often a man) towards their children.
All callers to this unique helpline are given information, support and advice to help them better protect the children they are worried about.

“In most of these cases, police, social services, health and education professional have not been contacted.

“There is so much the ordinary adult can do to protect children and young people from this life altering crime.

“If people know what behaviours to look for in other adults as well as any signs there might see in children the only other thing they need to know is what to do.

“Any concerned adult can call the confidential anonymous 0808 1000 900 helpline and get information, support and help. This is a safe place to discuss worries or just to check out possible problems.

“If adults call at the first sign of a problem helpline staff can help them to prevent harm coming to a child. If abuse is already taking place staff can offer support to prevent further incidents.

“There are also more traditional routes adults can take including contacting police or social services; challenging another adult over his or her behaviour; or simply altering routines thus preventing the child from being with a person there are worries about.

“It is time for all adults to stand up and play their role in the prevention of child sexual abuse.

“Professional have a role to play too, but without the help of all adults we have little hope of reducing the number of children and young people scarred by child sexual abuse.”

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