Group campaigns against deaf abuse

With the incidence of abuse and exploitation of deaf children, the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme Inc. (GVSP) conducted a training workshop on how to prevent such abuse.

Deaf participants and deaf advocates gathered at the social hall of the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf for the first training block of the “Break the Silence project: A deaf child sexual abuse prevention” last April 17-20.

The participants came from Davao Deaf Association, Dumaguete Effata Association of the Deaf Inc., Bohol Association of the Deaf Inc., Cebu Association of the Deaf Inc., Apostolic Movement of the Deaf, and GVSP volunteers.

Participants learned about children’s rights, the touching rules, how to identify offenders and victims and where to report abuse cases.

After the training, the participants are expected to share their knowledge to their own deaf community and conduct deaf child sexual abuse prevention campaigns to the different Special Education schools.

Break the Silence aims to strengthen the advocacy against child sexual abuse and exploitation of deaf children and women, together with partner organizations, deaf volunteers and the deaf community.

The project is in partnership with Australian Agency for International Development, The Stairway Foundation Inc. and the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf.

The GVSP invites cause oriented groups as well private companies and government institutions to join the Break the Silence network to strengthen the advocacy to stop deaf abuse.