ABSTRACT
Most of the work in sexual abuse prevention is an attempt to isolate this "problem" from the larger issues of the role of parents as sex educators and the need for sex education in the schools. It is essential to initiate sensible sexual abuse prevention programs within the context of comprehensive sexuality/family life education courses. Essentially, these programs should include the following messages: Some people—mostly males—for reasons that we don't entirely understand, get sexually turned on by children. In the meantime, parents can take responsibility for educating their own children. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and day-care workers are becoming afraid to touch, hug and kiss children. Children need hugging and touching more, not less. It is essential for their mental health and self-esteem. People across the country who have been unjustly accused are now banding together to protect themselves through a new organization called Victims of Child Abuse Laws (VOCAL).
