Advance Training for Carers on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

This course, held in Kota Kinabalu on 6–9 June 2007, was jointly organized by SAWO and Majlis Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Malaysia (MKKM) with trainers from P.S. the Children and Dignity & Services. The 26 participants included preschool to secondary school teachers, members of local NGOs (SAWO, Seri Murni Crisis Centre for Women and Girls, Sabah Society for the Deaf) and concerned parents.

The course provided insights into child sexual abuse, how it occurs and the effects on the victim; the rights of children; barriers to disclosure of abuse and how to handle disclosure; attitudes and beliefs about sexuality and skills for communicating about sexuality; prevention of abuse and personal safety skills for children; as well as establishment of a support system to handle disclosure within the participants’ working community. As sex and private parts are taboo in our community, this course helped the participants learn the skill to openly discuss the issue and introduce the personal safety programme in schools and other communities.