Child Rescue Coalition is proud to have collaborated with the UK Border Force to produce this awareness raising video to provide insights and education for parents. Nobody is helpless and we can all learn more about the nature of the threat to children. These are scenarios from real cases and this the third in a series of three.

Parents everywhere are struggling to keep up with technology. Learning more about how criminals target children for sexual abuse will help you realize that you are not powerless and you can help your child.

This resource is available in 10 native languages and presented by Child Rescue Coalition and made possible through the support of the UK Home Office. We are grateful for your support in spreading this message to protect children across the globe.

Try looking up your kid’s favorite game or app, with the words “pedophile” and “arrest.” It’s scary stuff.  I’ve been a reporter for almost 14 years now…I’ve covered war zones, domestic terrorism, all of that, so it’s not uncommon to see shocking stuff. But when I started reporting on these predators on kid’s sites,  I can’t even explain it.  When you have to look head-on at something just so depraved, and grotesque, it’s like – how do you report on that?

People have to know about it but no one wants to hear it. As a parent, I don’t want to hear it. Predators have always existed, but it’s becoming more prevalent – the online grooming, the abuse. It’s happening to kids of all ages, classes, backgrounds. Pedophiles are using online games to befriend these kids, and then abuse them even pressuring kids to abuse their younger siblings. So, it’s not as obvious like “oh, please be safe around adults” because, they might not actually be adults, or kids won’t really know they’re adults.

And it’s not if these predators approach your kids, it’s when. Which is terrifying.  But it doesn’t mean we’re helpless. I’ve talked to victims, parents, police and they’re all saying the same things — there are ways to protect our kids. Because that’s the thing, until there are effective laws for online protection, we have to prepare them for this.

The families I interviewed, the ones where abuse was identified and stopped, they taught emotional intelligence. You know, encouraging your kid to express boundaries, so when someone asks them to do something they’re uncomfortable with, they’re ready to say “no.”  Teaching them to trust their gut is a thing, asking them if something feels fun or scary, what the differences are. Most important though, is making sure they can talk to YOU.

I feel like sometimes you just assume your kid knows that, you know? But you really have to sit them down and be like “If anyone ever tells you not to tell me something, tell me right away.”  And then, if you do find out a child has been abused, you need to be the adult. So, not yelling, or blaming them. Making sure they know it’s not their fault, you aren’t mad, they’re not in trouble.

One police officer told me “Don’t play detective.” Take the material and the information to the authorities, and focus on being there for your child in what is honestly probably the worst time in their life.  Embarrassment, fear, shame — these are the tools of the abuser, so you have to be there with love, support and trust. And you have to know it’s not your fault either, just tell them that you love them more than anything and they’re gonna be okay.