Family for Every Child
Remember that sexual violence affects all genders Worldwide, 1 in 6 boys experience sexual abuse. This shocking statistic highlights the need for professionals to ensure support services are set up to effectively help every single person who has been a victim of sexual abuse. To find out more about the growing issue, and understand why new worldwide charter, United for Boys, has been set up to engage with professionals around the world, we speak to Amanda Griffith, Chief Executive from global network, Family for Every Child.
Can you tell us who Family for Every Child is and what you do? Family for Every Child is a global network of local grassroots children’s organisations. Our membership works together with 36 members in 35 countries across six continents, to share experience and best practice. This international collaboration ensures that we learn from each other and that locally-grown ideas get the global attention they deserve. Our members have years of experience in addressing factors leading to children being separated from their families and work within their countries to inform the changes that need to be made in their alternative care.
What can social workers learn from peers about the best ways to protect children from sexual violence? New models of supporting children affected by sexual violence are being developed all around the world, and as part of the United For Boys signatory network, social workers in the UK have an insight into new models of practice being developed worldwide. This reflects the network’s belief that no single country has a monopoly on good ideas – they can come from anywhere and we are committed to sharing them so others can learn and adapt them to their own context.
You recently published your report ‘Caring for Boys Affected by Sexual Violence’. What did you discover? ‘Caring for Boys Affected by Sexual Violence’ was published by Family for Every Child in 2018. The study highlights how harmful societal norms related to childhood, sexuality, gender and masculinity perpetuate sexual violence affecting boys, increasing their vulnerability and contributing to under-reporting. It is estimated that 1 in 6 boys worldwide experience sexual abuse. And whilst girls continue to be the gender principally affected (estimated at 1 in 4), the abuse suffered by boys can often fall under the radar. The report acknowledges the global efforts to protect girls from sexual violence over recent decades but spells out that more must be done to include boys to the fullest extent in prevention and response efforts.
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