Education is the key to prevention!

​Educational campaigns for both adults and children alike should be carried out in all communities in order to prevent and eradicate child abuse and neglect. A community as a whole that is well educated on how to create a safe and aware environment sends out a message to perpetrators and opportunists that there is zero tolerance of any kind of abuse and opportunity. 

​Educating children is a preventative tool to assist children in knowing and understanding their rights and responsibilities. Some of the topics covered when educating children are:

• making them aware of their rights and responsibilities,
• empowering them to report abuse,
• promoting life skills and values.

It is also important for children to know that not all abusers are strangers!

It is equally important to educate adults and child care-givers on the precautions of child abuse and neglect. There are several physical and behavioral indicators, ‘warning signs’, that a caring and responsible adult can pick-up on in order to help the child. Physical and behavioral indicators are just another way of saying ‘opportunity for prevention’, a chance to recognize possible risk and to take action to protect children.

Temple communities are encouraged to host Awareness Day programs, put up educational posters, invite professionals from the local Social Service to address the congregation. Programs for teachers, leaders, parents and care-givers are essential.

​The ISKCON Child protection office holds different trainings for temples to assist in educating and setting up child protection standards for each community. Holding trainings on child protection in each temple and community gives the opportunity to set up policies and procedures and to educate and give responsibility to each community member to know how to help prevent and identify abuse. If you would like to become a more educated member of your community or want to set up training for your temple contact (ADD LINK) the Child Protection Office for assistance.