Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation

Proclamation No. 731, signed by President Fidel Ramos in 1996, declared the second week of February of every year as “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation”. It called for all sectors and organization of government, as well as local government units, the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children – to join hands with public sector, civil society organizations (child and youth organizations, people’s organizations, media, women, and business corporations to:

1. Promote awareness on the problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation;
2. Participate in the nationwide campaign to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation;
3. Instil in the general public respect for laws and ordinances related to the welfare of children, and surveillance and report of suspected cases to DSWD or law enforcement agencies;
4. Integrate in school curriculum topics on child abuse and exploitation; and,
5. Provide orientation to all sectors on Republic Act 7610 and other laws and on the problem of child abuse and exploitation.

Coherent with the 4th  objective of the Presidential Proclamation No. 731,  the country  marks  this year’s  NAWPCSAE  by formally launching  the Department of Education’s Order No. 45, mandating the institutionalization of the Personal Safety Lessons (PSL) in both elementary and secondary schools nationwide. 

What is Personal Safety Lesson (PSL)?

• Personal Safety Lessons is a  violence prevention program  that empowers children to take part in their own protection  by giving information and skills within their own culture and religion.   
• Personal safety is lessons designed to protect children from any form of manipulation. This includes bullying from friends and abuse by adults, specifically sexual abuse
• Personal Safety empowers children to take part in their own protection by giving them information, skills,   and self esteem within their own culture and religion
•  Personal Safety teaches children that their body belongs only to them and nobody has the right to touch them in a way they do not like or understand
• Personal Safety aims at preventing today’s children from being tomorrow’s offenders

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