To mark National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day this Friday (18 March), Lead Members from South Tyneside Council have joined forces with the South Tyneside Safeguarding Children Board, the Borough’s Youth Parliament and the Junior Local Safeguarding Children Board to write pledges on their hands and have their messages posted to the national Helping Hands campaign.
Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.
National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day aims to highlight the issue and encourage people to spot and speak out against this type of child abuse.
Councillor Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Children, Families and Young People at South Tyneside Council, said: “In many ways, child sexual exploitation is a hidden issue which is why we want to raise awareness to encourage people to think, spot and speak out against abuse.
“Child sexual exploitation is child abuse and leaves victims traumatised and often scarred for life. I’m delighted that our Youth Parliament and Junior LSCB appreciate the importance of this issue and have agreed to lend their support to the campaign.”
Councillor Tracey Dixon, Chair of the South Tyneside Community Safety Partnership, added: “This issue is at the heart of our partnership activity to keep the Borough’s children and young people safe. We will continue to adopt a zero tolerance approach towards adults who form inappropriate relationships with children.”
To send your own pledge in support of the campaign, post your photo on social media with the hashtag #HelpingHands