SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

4.4.4 Prevention through advocacy and awareness-raising
Breaking the Silence addresses the sexual abuse of girls and boys and has been working to
raise awareness for more than 10 years. It now covers six districts as well as Dhaka. Working
primarily through schools, Breaking the Silence raises awareness about child sexual abuse to
principals, teachers and parents, as well as children. The work has been challenging, given the
sensitivity of discussing sexuality in Bangladesh. The organization approaches the issue
through discussions on children’s rights. School activities include building healthy
relationships between teachers and children, opening discussions on the problems children
face in schools, creating a child-friendly school atmosphere, establishing closer ties between
schools and parents, and helping teachers and students identify what schools can do in the
event of sexual abuse.
With support from Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, Breaking the Silence operates a
counselling bureau, located at a mother and child health and family planning facility in
Dhaka. It provides trained counsellors to educate visiting clients, both mothers and children,
on the sexual abuse of girls and boys. The group also conducts extensive networking with
NGOs and government agencies to develop their awareness and build capacity to address
child sexual abuse in both rural and urban settings.
Sexual abuse has also been addressed in schools by the NGO Development Initiative for
Social Advancement through a project supported by Save the Children Sweden-Denmark.
Operating from 2003 to 2006, the project mobilized students (both girls and boys) and
teachers to tackle abuse in school settings. Children’s groups were formed to provide a venue
in which children could safely express their concerns, and peer educators were trained and
mobilized to raise awareness among fellow students. Materials were developed on child
sexual abuse, and teachers were trained to identify abuse risks and symptoms among their
students. The project also conducted awareness activities among parents and school
management committees.
Approximately 15 of the leading NGOs working on child sexual exploitation in Bangladesh
are members of the networking coalition ATSEC. The coalition, which has counterpart
groups in India and Nepal, conducts awareness and social mobilization programmes at local
and national levels, supports research and provides inputs into governmental and donor
strategies against sexual exploitation.
INCIDIN Bangladesh is a research and advocacy organization working to combat sexual
abuse and sexual exploitation of children. Through its project Safe Night Shelter for Sexually
Exploited Street Children, supported by Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, INCIDIN
conducts a campaign to prevent boys from being sexually abused and entering prostitution by
providing safe night shelter. It also works to empower children living on the street through
participation and activism.
INCIDIN advocates for safe night shelter through an alliance with NGOs, government and the
private sector to operate houses where children can spend the night. Activities include
workshops, media campaigns, dialogues with decision-makers and consultations with
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