What Safety plan for Children
is child
Verbally abusing
a child
abuse? Touching a
child where
they don’t
Tell Someone Be aware, be safe Remember, a child
that is aware is a
want to be • If you are feeling threatened, tell • Be informed of your rights as
touched someone that you trust. a child. If your parents do not protected child.
Not • If someone has already abused tell you, read about them.
listening you, do not protect him – protect • You have a right to say NO
to a child yourself. to anybody that is doing or
Not
cleaning, • If you are not believed – tell saying things that you feel are
clothing or someone else (go to a clinic and wrong, even your parents.
feeding a tell the clinic sister, she must • Read about things that you
Breaking child
down take action). do not understand, like sex,
the self • Sometimes friends will support HIV AIDS, how babies are
confidence you (if you are alone at home born, what constitutes sexual,
of a child with a relative who is threatening emotional and physical abuse.
your personal safety, keep Join the library!
inviting friends over).
Leaving a child
without supervision
Exposing
Remember, Be confident
a child to keep telling
pornographic until someone • Girl or boy, no matter your colour, age,
acts or size or standard of living, carry yourself
literature believes
with confidence.
you and
• Know your limits over others and know the
takes action limits others have over you.
to protect • Be proud and enjoy your youth.
Forcing yourself • Protect and stick up for each other and for
Hitting or a child to what is right.
hurting a child touch you
Childline Love yourself
Toll-free
• Treasure your body, it is yours for life. Remember, you are a child
• Respect yourself and others. of the universe, as much as
0800 05 55 55 • Value your own life because if you the trees and the stars, you
don’t others won’t either.
have a right to be here, to be
• Cherish your dreams no matter how
impossible they seem now and strive loved, cared for, protected
to achieve them. and be safe… to belong.
How you can prevent child abuse: Protecting children is everybody’s business
• Form a neighbourhood group contributing to child abuse, such as How you can intervene in child abuse:
to focus on child protection. poverty, life skills, unemployment.
• Foster mutual respect and • Make use of resources provided by • Check situations out if • In case of rape, secure any evidence.
good communication between existing organisations in your areas. they look suspicious. • Get assistance from other neighbours.
children and parents. • Lobby local, provincial and national • Call the police if a child is in danger. • Become safety parents.
• Look for positive ways to government for adequate environments • Report cases and act in collaboration • Offer support and assistance to parents
bring up children. and essential services e.g., housing, with relevant authorities. and children who have been abused.
• Inform parents and children water, sanitation, and playgrounds. • When taking a child to the
about their rights as citizens. police, insist on a case number. • Provide support to your
• Watch your neighbour’s children
when they have to go somewhere.
neighbour in times of emergency,
How to
offer a meal, call the ambulance
• Form links and reach out to • Don’t ask the child too many questions.
respond to
families in difficult circumstances. • Give information to neighbours on
child support grants, disability grants,
• Have neighbour’s children check and where to go if a child is abused.
child abuse
with you when they come home
if their parents are not there.
• Keep an eye out for strangers
or strange cars.
• Keep an eye on your neighbour’s
house if they are away.
• Talk to children in your neighbourhood
about where they can go for help.
• Establish safe homes • Have respect for your neighbours. • Perpetrators of abuse have
and safety networks with • Child abuse should never be tolerated. committed a crime.
organisations in your area. • Prevention of abuse is • The behaviour of perpetrators
• Spread the idea of good everyone;s responsibility. can be changed.
neighbourliness. • Be child-friendly adults. • Being a good neighbour has limits,
• Establish neighbourhood don’t let it be an extra burden.
support groups for abused • Children are entitled • Always act in the best
children and their families. interest of the child.
• Establish links and networks to human rights • Be crime-free.
with formal services. • Child protection starts at home
• Organise neighbourhood • It’s never too late to help. and with one’s own family.
awareness campaigns. • Believe children.
• Organise activities to improve your
neighbourhood that address issues
