E P IN G

KE
D Y
M Y B O
SA F E

A product of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit of the

Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs
This book belongs to
someone special !

My name is:

1
 Child Abuse:
Any mistreatment or neglect
of a child is abuse

You are not to be blamed

if anyone abuses you

2
There are four types of child abuse.

1. Physical abuse

For example:

•Hitting, biting, shaking and burning a child

•Bruises
•Cuts
•Broken bones

3
 2. Sexual abuse

For example:
•Having sex with a child
•Touching and playing with a child’s
private parts
•Asking a child to touch or play with another’s
private parts
•Inserting objects into a child’s private parts

4
 Non-touching forms of sexual abuse

e
on
Ph

•Using a child to perform sexual acts for money or

material things (pros-ti-tu-tion) or sexual pictures
or movies (por-no-gra-phy)
•Children watching sexual actions of adults
•Using the internet and cell phone to send
messages to a child that has sexual
pictures and words

5
MY PRIVATE PARTS

Where my
underwear
covers. . .
and my
mouth!

6
Sometimes people will need to touch
your private parts.This should only
happen when you need help.

It might be if you need help on the toilet.

It might be when
you need help to
have a bath or
shower.

It might be when
the doctor, nurse
or dentist has to
check to see if
you are healthy.

7
 3. Neglect/Abandonment: when a parent or
guardian or an adult does not provide
properly for a child.

For example:
•There is no love and attention
•The child is not given food, clothes and shelter
•The child is left alone at home
•The child does not attend school
•The child does not visit the Doctor for check up
or does not get medicine when sick

8
 4. Emotional Abuse:

•Threatening or insulting a child

•Shouting at a child in a rude or bad way
•Calling the child names
•Always blaming the child
•Cursing a child
•Bullying

9
Bullying

Bullying is a
behaviour
that is not liked
and it is very
unfriendly.

It is something
that is done over
and over again
to someone.

10
Verbal bullying is saying or writing bad things
about someone.

Social bullying: hurting someone’s relationship

or character.

Physical bullying: hurting a person’s body

or the things they own.

11
 Examples of bullying:
• Leaving someone out on purpose
• Telling other children not to be friends
with someone
• Spreading rumours about someone

• Embarrassing someone in public

• Hitting/kicking/pinching
• Spitting on someone
• Taking or breaking someone’s things
• Making mean or rude hand gestures

12
 SAFE AND UNSAFE TOUCHES

SAFE TOUCHES GIVE US GOOD FEELINGS

For example:
When Mommy or daddy gives you a hug and
kiss on the cheek after you wake up
or before you go to bed

13
 SAFE TOUCHES
•When Grandma and Grandpa come to visit
and everyone gets hugs and kisses on the
cheek.
•When a friend gives you a high five

A safe touch for me is when someone

gives me a hug and says hi.

What about
you?

14
 Unsafe Touch
•It is an unsafe touch if it hurts you.
•It is an unsafe touch if someone touches you
on your body where you don't want to be touched
and shouldn’t be touched.

•It is an unsafe touch if a person touches you on

a part of your body in a way that makes you feel
uncomfortable.
15
•It is an unsafe touch if that touch makes
you feel scared and nervous.

•It is an unsafe touch if a person

forces you to touch him or her.

•It is an unsafe touch if a person touches

you and asks you not to tell anyone.

•It is an unsafe touch if a person touches

you and threatens to hurt you if you tell.

16
Examples of uncomfortable feelings

Sad Angry

Afraid Ashamed

17
•If someone touches you inappropriately
tell someone you trust what has happened.

•Don't let the person scare you into running

away or keeping quiet.

18
SAFE AND UNSAFE SECRETS

An unsafe secret makes

you feel uncomfortable
and afraid

19
 SAFE SECRETS

A safe secret is a secret that

makes you feel happy to keep

For example:

• A surprise birthday party for your

friend or mommy or Daddy

•A gift for Christmas or birthday

20
 Who are strangers?

•Strangers are people you

do not know.

•Strangers don't have to look

ugly or scary; they can be pretty
or handsome

•Some strangers are nice, but there

are some strangers who are unsafe
The unsafe strangers are those
who hurt children.

21
 Who are safe strangers?
•Safe strangers are people you can
ask for help when you need it.

•Police Officers, Firemen and Teachers are

examples of safe strangers.

•For example, if you are in a public place

and need help, you can ask a Police Officer
for help or directions.

22
How can you protect yourself from abuse?

1. In public places always stay close to your

Parents or Guardians
2. Don’t take lifts on vehicles from strangers.
3. When you are leaving school always walk
home from school with your friends
4. Do not go anywhere you are not supposed to go.
5. Never leave your home without getting your
parents’ or guardians’ permission
6. Never go into anyone’s home without getting
your Parents’ and Guardians’ permission
7. If you are at home and someone gives you an
unsafe touch or tells you an unsafe secret, tell
someone you trust immediately

23
What do you do when someone tells you an
unsafe secret or gives you an unsafe touch?

1. Always tell if someone gives you an unsafe

touch or unsafe secret

2. If the person you go to doesn't believe you,

speak to someone else whom you trust until
someone believes you and helps you so that
the abuse does not continue.

24
Who can you tell if someone gives you an
unsafe touch or asks you to keep an
unsafe secret?

Parents Teacher
Grandparents Pastor/ Priest
Doctor Police Officer
Nurse Welfare Officer
Speak to an adult who can give you help
Anyone can abuse a child, including a family member,
friend or neighbour
Remember: Abuse can happen anywhere, even at
home, school and church
NEVER keep it a secret

25
 My list of important
telephone numbers
of persons I can
talk to about anything
or ask for help:

Dad:.......................... Mom:............................

Social Welfare Division: 266-3020 or 266-3080

Police: 999 or Crime Stoppers:1-800-8477
Fire Station: 999

Write down the name and telephone numbers of

some other people that are important for you
to know, for example, Teacher, Sister, Brother,
your Doctor or anyone else you can think of:

Name:................................... Number:......................

Name:................................... Number:......................

Name:................................... Number:......................

Name:................................... Number:......................

26
 27
Abuse
Child
Touch
Stranger
Sad
Say No!
Body
Secret
Unsafe
Happy
KEY:
 Special Thank You!

Principal and students of:

· St. Martin Primary School

· Sineku Primary School
· Goodwill Primary School

Children in Foster Care

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Mrs Sylvanie Burton, Permanent Secretary -

Ministry of Social Services, Family & Gender
Affairs of the Commonwealth of Dominica

Ms. Nicole Toussaint - Welfare Officer, Child

Abuse Prevention Unit

28
•Edited and compiled by: Mrs. Jemma Azille-Lewis
Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit (CAPU),
Social Welfare Division, Ministry of Social Services,
Family and Gender Affairs of the Commonwealth of
Dominica with technical and financial support from
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

•Artistic concepts and pre-press production by

Pacesetter Services

•Cover design and illustrations by Errol Evelyn

© Azille-Lewis 2016