Paul Frew MLA is lending his support to the NSPCC’s Underwear Rule campaign by calling on parents in North Antrim to talk PANTS to their children to help protect them from sexual abuse.
This August, the NSPCC is aiming to reach more parents than ever with its successful Underwear Rule campaign. The campaign was originally launched in the wake of high profile sexual abuse scandals, to help give parents the confidence to talk to their children about staying safe from abuse. Targeted at parents and carers of children aged 5-11, the campaign is designed to enable them to have age-appropriate conversations that don’t feel scary or damage a child’s innocence.
The Underwear Rule has had overwhelming positive feedback from parents and carers, with over 400,000 parents having spoken to their children as a direct result of the campaign to date. Crucially some of these conversations have led to disclosures of abuse and a small number of convictions.
Recent research conducted by the NSPCC shows that parents who have used the Underwear Rule want other parents to know about it and are keen to share it. So, in a bid to reach the hundreds of thousands of parents who are yet to hear about the Underwear Rule, campaign supporters like Paul Frew MLA are helping to get the message out in their communities.
Paul Frew MLA said: “Sexual abuse continues to be a terrible scar on our society which won’t heal by itself. The NSPCC’s ambition is to get to the point where the Underwear Rule is as well-known as the Green Cross Code – something that all parents teach their children. So we’re on a mission to get parents to talk PANTS – to their children and then to other parents”
PANTS is an easy way to help children understand the key points of the Rule and is contained in a guide that accompanies the campaign – Talk PANTS. (www.nspcc.org.uk/underwear)
- Privates are private.
- Always remember your body belongs to you
- No means no
- Talk about secrets that upset you
- Speak up, someone can help
