After a series of child molestation cases, parents must teach their children this.

Recently, there have been a series of cases of child sexual abuse that have shaken public opinion. However, many children cannot speak out. So, how can we know if a child is being sexually abused and what should parents do when they see signs of sexual abuse in their children? Dr. Tran Thanh Nam (University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) shared how to help children avoid being molested.

Parents teach children the principles: NO, STOP, STAY AWAY, SAY IT.

According to Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, parents need to teach children from the age of 3 about how to prevent sexual abuse.

Accordingly, parents should teach children to identify private space and teach them warning signs of physical contact.

In particular, parents must teach children the principles: NO, STOP, STAY AWAY, SPEAK OUT.

Parents should tell their children to never accept gifts from strangers, never contact strangers without an adult, never go out alone at night, and never gather in public places. If anyone asks for help, the child must run to an adult, the police, or the police because they are not capable of doing so themselves. Parents should teach their children that if they are abused (hugged, kissed, fondled, etc.), they must stay away and tell an adult.

“Regarding your private parts, your parents always remind you to absolutely not let anyone touch them,” Dr. Nam said.

Dr. Tran Thanh Nam pointed out the signs to recognize if a child has been sexually abused: Panic, fear; Change in daily routine; Pain in the genital area...

“Children will scream when someone touches them, especially near sensitive areas. Those are the clearest signs that they have been sexually abused,” Dr. Nam shared.

What should parents do when their child is sexually abused?

Through research, Dr. Nguyen Ba Hung, Department of Andrology, Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital, said that children who are sexually abused cannot speak out because the parents themselves feel pain and anger because their children did not tell them.

In addition, the community has a discriminatory attitude towards and criticism of sexually abused children. Parents themselves are confused and do not know how to support them.

Not only that, on the children's side, they do not have enough knowledge to understand that it is sexual abuse. No one believes them even if they tell, sometimes they fear retaliation if they tell, or they feel so ashamed that they cannot talk about it.

Sometimes the more daring children sometimes tell their parents about what happened. However, many parents do not want to think about it or do not want to believe it, or are worried but do not know how to handle it.

When a child is sexually abused, parents should not blame, beat, or scold them. Parents should also not conceal, remain silent, or not report the perpetrator. This is condoning the crime, which can lead to their child being abused again or continuing to abuse other children.

According to Dr. Hung, taking revenge on the perpetrator without enough evidence or with enough evidence is also a violation of the law. Suddenly, the victim becomes the perpetrator. Arranging for the perpetrator to pay compensation is also a violation of the law or can be sued by the perpetrator.

Show the family that their children are just victims, need to care, encourage, comfort to avoid pushing them to negative behaviors and must take the children immediately to a medical facility for examination and treatment if necessary.