Children should be exposed to techniques of protecting themselves from sexual abuse, including differentiating the touches of paedophiles in their surroundings.

Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) programme consultant Dr Prema Devaraj said there were 187 cases of child abuse were reported in Penang last year, with 32 percent or 60 cases involving sexual abuse.

She said from the total, 60 percent of the sexual offences were carried out by individuals known to the victims and therefore it was important for children to understand between appropriate and inappropriate touch.

“Sexual abuse normally starts from a touch. It may start from a normal touch before becoming serious,” she said after launching a Safety Kit organised by WCC with the cooperation of the Penang Education Department in George Town yesterday.

She said the kit was an educational package which has been updated to teach children on safety measures against sexual abuse with a video displaying the possible sexual touch.

Dr Prema said in the video, viewers would be exposed to an adaptation of a real story on sexual abuse and the various ways the victim could seek adult help.  

- Bernama