Stop child sexual abuse through global education

I have and I know Matthew McVarish, our European Ambassador, has asked: Why do I do this work? It is often sad and overwhelming work. But, it's an important question that we have asked ourselves - we want to know that we're always doing this for the right reasons, because the stakes are so high. The answers are sometimes obvious and some not so. For Matt, who is a survivor of child sexual abuse (CSA), he's doing it for him, his brothers and all those who have suffered - and continue to suffer - as a result of exposure to CSA; he wants to see that harm and suffering stop.

So do I. Perhaps the best response I have about why I do this work has been present since I first began to do it... Each and every time, early in the tenure of working on CSA prevention and mitigation (and still often now), when I'd stand up before a room of people - whether it was in DC, CA, or Zambia - my mind, once I got going on imparting information about what CSA was, who it affected, and what it did, would go to my own kids, who were then young and small, and I wondered, what if it happened to my children. And my kids would become every kid. It was (and is) an excruciating idea, made all the more so by the knowledge that there are millions and millions of kids out there who are being and have been sexually abused and who are affected for so long.

Why do we do the work we do?  We know it's critical and we know that we're making a difference.

Over the next weeks, as we move into the holiday season (Thanksgiving in the U.S., and then, of course, Chanukah and Christmas), we will be sending you a few updates about our work, highlighting a few key areas of focus, and asking you, too, to keep us in your thoughts and giving plans over this season.

So, I want to remind you about our two primary areas of focus and "show" you our work:

• In the U.S., our primary focus is on comprehensive university- and community-based activities that open hearts and then minds through our Art as Advocacy Program. The program uses various forms of art, including theater and film (everywhere we can with the University of Maryland program coming right up - see attached poster), and still art (the program at Stop the Silence at Indiana University) as well as at-event factual information presented to event audiences. Then, we network to present follow-on formal and informal education and training for community members and services providers.

• In Europe currently, the Road to Change is bringing incredible information forward to people across Europe. Matthew McVarish (check out his Lithuania-stationed "thank you" video), Scottish playwright, actor, musician and the Stop the Silence European Ambassador, started on May 31, 2013, and ultimately will be walking 10,000 miles (yes, walking) to every European Union (EU) country in the EU. That's 29 countries and 32 capital cities (and, of course, going through numerous communities in each country on the way to each capital). In each country, he is meeting with the UK Embassy, each of which has been instrumental in then opening the doors to media, policymakers, stakeholders, NGOs and survivor groups. Matthew then provides relevant information to each group including ideas on prevention and information on policy issues, like changes needed in countries' Statutes of Limitations, which put caps on how long people can prosecute, putting more kids at risk because offenders still have access to them if they have not been prosecuted within the allowable time limits, and creating a situation that reduces survivors' ability to get the justice.

We're working hard to make sure that kids are protected and survivors can heal. Won't you please help now, into the holiday season and beyond? Consider making a monthly donation! Spread the word - ask your friends, colleagues and family to join our Global Giving supporters, too! Thank you!

Pamela Pine, PhD, MPH, Founder and CEO, Stop the Silence

• Stop the Silence Art as Advocacy community program (PDF)
  
• Screening of To Kill A Kelpie at U of MD Nov. 13 (PDF)