This is a follow-up to the post, 'Gemma's Story' immediately below. Please read Gemma's Story first.
NSPCC's Underwear Rule campaign was originally launched last summer and aimed to give parents the confidence to have an easy conversation about what many originally saw as a difficult area for discussion. See post immediately below for more on NSPCC.
Mr Forde added: "Our campaign has started to make inroads in giving children the protection they need but there is obviously still a long way to go.
"Parents and carers can play an important role by ensuring their children are armed with the knowledge to recognise the wrong kind of behaviour and keep themselves safe.
"The Underwear Rule is a vital part of this process and is already striking a chord with some parents, but we would urge more to get involved."
Support materials are available for parents and the NSPCC has developed a guide, called Talk Pants, that helps children understand the key points of the rule.
Gillian McGhee, from Clydebank, has used the guide to talk to her five-year-old son Aiden.
She said: "The guidance packs for parents and children allow for a perfectly natural conversation. It's not scary or boring; it's child-friendly, bright and colourful - which helped to keep his interest and allow us to chat openly about the issues raised."
A young woman who was raped by her father at the age of 12 has shared her story in the hope it will help other victims of sexual abuse.
Gemma Schembri, now 21, from Lincolnshire, revealed her father, Mark, had always been controlling but took his abuse further after he split up with her mother.
She said: 'He started to sexually abuse me when I stayed with him and it went on for over a year. He was very manipulative and controlled my thoughts to make me believe it was normal.
'The first time he raped me he said afterwards, "Well it was better that it was with me than with some random person in a hotel".'
Gemma said she didn't realise what her father was doing was wrong and it took her years to pluck up the courage to reveal she was a victim of abuse.
She explains: 'My mum hadn't spoken to me about sexual abuse and what type of touching was acceptable and what wasn't. It took me two years to tell someone I was being abused as I didn't realise it was wrong at first and then, when I did, I didn't know how to broach the subject with my mum.'
As a result of her ordeal, Gemma is now supporting a campaign by the NSPCC - who supported her as she came to terms with her experiences.
The charity have launched a campaign called PANTS that encourages parents to have simple, age appropriate conversations with their children to make them aware of the dangers of sexual abuse.
They advise parents to tell primary school children of the 'underwear rule' - that they shouldn't be touched by anyone else in the areas their underwear covers.
It's something Gemma wishes she had been taught at a young age.
She said: 'I think for me to have known that what was happening was wrong my mum would have needed to have said, "You shouldn't let people touch you in areas that your underwear would cover" so I knew what was acceptable and what wasn't.
'I'd had sex education at school when I was younger but that was just about safe sex and I think a girl should be told about what constitutes sexual abuse by her mum not teachers.'
There is a very short (1:46) video at this link, please watch.
NSPCC's Underwear Rule campaign was originally launched last summer and aimed to give parents the confidence to have an easy conversation about what many originally saw as a difficult area for discussion. See post immediately below for more on NSPCC.
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| The NSPCC is repeating its Talk Pants campaign encourage parents to discuss the issues with children |
"Parents and carers can play an important role by ensuring their children are armed with the knowledge to recognise the wrong kind of behaviour and keep themselves safe.
"The Underwear Rule is a vital part of this process and is already striking a chord with some parents, but we would urge more to get involved."
Support materials are available for parents and the NSPCC has developed a guide, called Talk Pants, that helps children understand the key points of the rule.
Gillian McGhee, from Clydebank, has used the guide to talk to her five-year-old son Aiden.
She said: "The guidance packs for parents and children allow for a perfectly natural conversation. It's not scary or boring; it's child-friendly, bright and colourful - which helped to keep his interest and allow us to chat openly about the issues raised."
A young woman who was raped by her father at the age of 12 has shared her story in the hope it will help other victims of sexual abuse.
Gemma Schembri, now 21, from Lincolnshire, revealed her father, Mark, had always been controlling but took his abuse further after he split up with her mother.
She said: 'He started to sexually abuse me when I stayed with him and it went on for over a year. He was very manipulative and controlled my thoughts to make me believe it was normal.
'The first time he raped me he said afterwards, "Well it was better that it was with me than with some random person in a hotel".'
 |
| Gemma Schembri |
She explains: 'My mum hadn't spoken to me about sexual abuse and what type of touching was acceptable and what wasn't. It took me two years to tell someone I was being abused as I didn't realise it was wrong at first and then, when I did, I didn't know how to broach the subject with my mum.'
As a result of her ordeal, Gemma is now supporting a campaign by the NSPCC - who supported her as she came to terms with her experiences.
The charity have launched a campaign called PANTS that encourages parents to have simple, age appropriate conversations with their children to make them aware of the dangers of sexual abuse.
They advise parents to tell primary school children of the 'underwear rule' - that they shouldn't be touched by anyone else in the areas their underwear covers.
It's something Gemma wishes she had been taught at a young age.
She said: 'I think for me to have known that what was happening was wrong my mum would have needed to have said, "You shouldn't let people touch you in areas that your underwear would cover" so I knew what was acceptable and what wasn't.
'I'd had sex education at school when I was younger but that was just about safe sex and I think a girl should be told about what constitutes sexual abuse by her mum not teachers.'
There is a very short (1:46) video at this link, please watch.
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