STOP IT NOW! Campaign

The programme began with a 4-year pilot project in 1995 called STOP IT NOW! VERMONT. This project was launched in partnership with the Safer Society Foundation, Inc. Television feature stories, radio public service announcements, bus advertisements, and articles and opinion pieces (in Vermont newspapers) were produced in collaboration with the media and various statewide and local organisations. A toll-free helpline was established for anyone wishing to make an anonymous call in search of information and referrals. Workshops featuring face-to-face encounters with recovering abusers were designed to educate the public. For example, one 71-year-old abuser spoke to 100 teachers in Vermont about how he came to abuse his 3 granddaughters. An effort was also made to explore partnerships with Vermont decision-makers and leaders.

In an effort to build on the lessons learned from the pilot project, an expert panel meeting was held in April, 2002 in Washington, DC to identify challenges and possible solutions. "Working Upstream: A Public Health Approach to Preventing the Sexual Abuse of Children" brought together people working in a variety of fields related to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

STOP IT NOW! produces several publications. STOP IT NOW! News is a quarterly newsletter that provides information about sexual abuse and efforts to address the problem. The 36-page Gathering the Facts About Child Sexual Abuse: A Resource Guide for the Media is designed for journalists. It provides a comprehensive listing of organisations and services that work to prevent or intervene in child sexual abuse situations. Other booklets include Do Children Sexually Abuse Other Children?: Talking With Your Children About Child Sexual Abuse (an 8-page booklet that helps parents understand why children abuse each other, and how to deal with the problem) and Child Sexual Abuse: Facts About Abuse and Those Who Might Commit It (a 13-page booklet that provides information about child sexual abuse, as well as guidelines for approaching the problem).

Organisers have established a programme in Philadelphia, PA with the Joseph J. Peters Institute, in Minnesota with Project Pathfinder, Inc., and in the United Kingdom with the Lucy Faithful Foundation. Those who wish to join the campaign are asked to contribute (see STOP IT NOW! website for details). Confidential information is available on the STOP IT NOW! hotline from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard time). The phone number is 1-888-PREVENT.

Children, Conflict, Health.

Child sexual abuse is sexual activity with a child by an adult, an adolescent, or an older child. This kind of abuse is a crime in all 50 states of the United States. Organisers stress that the crime is rarely perpetrated by the "dirty old man" we imagine lurking in the corner of a local playground or park. One in five girls and one in seven boys have been sexually abused before the age of 18. 90% of the victims of child sexual abuse know their abusers. Studies show that 35-50% of abusers are also children. 95% of children with sexual behaviour problems were victims of sexual abuse. Experts say that abusers can change, but that sending abusers to prison without treatment does not stop further abuse. A study in Vermont showed that without treatment, 38% of abusers returning to the streets abused again. With treatment, this incidence of re-offending dropped to 6%. Researchers estimate that only 15% of the cases of sexual assault are ever reported.