Advice on preventing sexual violence against children and teenagers

EMMA Team

The Child and Teenage Violence Care Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (EMMA team) is a multidisciplinary team made up of Paediatrics, Social Work (Healthcare division) and Clinical Psychology, which aims to meet the needs of situations of violence against children and teenagers from a medical, psychological and social perspective. The objectives of the EMMA team are to improve awareness and detection of violence and to work on the recovery of these children, teenagers and the families that care for them. The model of this team is to work in coordination with the territory and institutions involved in these cases, integrating the perspective of children and teenagers, as well as the gender perspective in their actions, reducing re-victimisation and reenforcing their recovery.

Advices

These are the 7 tips on violence in childhood and adolescence:

• From a very young age children should be aware of the intimate parts of the body and call them by their name: breasts, vulva, penis and bottom. And we have to make it very clear that no one can touch them there nor can they touch other people there.
   
• The most important message in terms of self-protection is to teach children to ask for help and to know which people in their circle of trust they can turn to.
   
• Children have the right not to receive hugs, kisses or other displays of affection if they do not so wish. Children have an important sensory awareness that helps them distinguish what they like from what they do not and this has an important protective value.
   
• We need to work with children and teenagers so they understand that emotional relationships are based on respect, trust, communication and consent.
   
• We need to talk about everything openly and facilitate dialogue. Secrecy is linked to the use of power by the aggressor, who generates fear, shame or guilt and manipulates the child or teenager with threats, blackmail or false promises.
   
• When a child or teenager reveals the facts, it is essential to ask open questions and not question the credibility of the story. It is essential that the victim feels listened to, helped and accompanied.
   
• Sexual violence amongst equals is also a reality that as a society we often do not want to see. In the prevention of these situations, schools, family, youth organisations, the internet and the media can be a key element.