Prevention is an effective tool to reduce violence: psychologists from Ivano-Frankivsk region were trained in safeguarding

"A child who systematically witnesses or experiences domestic violence tolerates abuse and violence in adulthood. After all, if relatives behaved cruelly to each other or to the child, devaluing, causing physical and psychological pain, the child learns these patterns of behavior. Therefore, in adulthood, such children can become victims of violence in their own families or, on the contrary, aggressors," said Yuliana Maslak, a child psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist, during a webinar for psychologists.

Yuliana Maslak spoke about the types of violence, how it affects a child, and what are the signs. How to recognize abuse and a possible perpetrator, how to talk to an abused child, how to respond, support and where to refer for professional help.

"Why do some adults commit sexual violence against minors? Because the adult offender is psychosexually the same age as the victim - emotionally a child or such adults may have experienced abuse themselves as children. Some of them may have serious neuropsychiatric disorders or sexually compulsive behavior. They justify themselves with cognitive distortions: "only children can understand me", "it's just a game", children are having fun and I'm doing the same". Such people often do not have meaningful relationships with other adults, they seek children's attention, spend too much time with them, violate physical boundaries, and give them gifts," the child psychiatrist explained.

Prevention is an effective tool to reduce violence against minors. The more we talk about safety, explain how to achieve it, and recommend algorithms, the safer the space for our children will be.

UCU's Center for Child Dignity has developed "Briefings for Child Safety at School" and its appendices, which explain the basic safety rules that children need to know to protect themselves from violence. The manual contains interactive lessons for children aged 4 to 18 that explain what safe and unsafe touching is, how to defend personal boundaries, say no to things a child does not like, who are safe adults, where and whom to turn to if personal boundaries are violated, what bullying and cyberbullying are and how to counteract it.