The Child Liberation Foundation (CLF) delivered an impactful awareness parent workshop at Escuela Santo Tomás de Aquino on May 23, 2025. The session welcomed 22 caregivers and was led by CLF psychologist Andrés Flórez.
Educating Parents to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
This vital parent workshop aimed to strengthen the protective role of families in preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation by using a participatory, educational, and community-based approach. The event began with an introduction to CLF’s mission, vision, and longstanding work in child rights advocacy.
Parents were guided through a contextual discussion on the realities of child sexual abuse in Colombia, with a focus on understanding these crimes as structural and social issues that require collective responsibility and action.
Group Dialogue and Collective Learning
To foster engagement and shared learning, attendees of the parent workshop were divided into six discussion groups. Each group received a guiding question to reflect on collaboratively:
- Why does most abuse occur within familiar environments?
- What can families and schools do to prevent it?
- What defines a safe and protective environment?
- What are the risks of technology and social media for children?
- What strategies do abusers commonly use?
- What is a child protection response route and how is it activated?
Each group presented its insights and so created a powerful space for collective knowledge building, emphasizing open communication, emotional education, close parental involvement, and trust as key pillars of child protection.
Building Support Networks for Ongoing Protection
To close the parent workshop, CLF shared its communication channels such as social media, support groups, and direct contact options and invited families to stay connected, seek guidance, and access protection resources when needed.
Outcomes
The session successfully raised critical awareness among 22 caregivers and offered practical tools to prevent child sexual abuse at home. It also strengthened the foundation’s role as a trusted support network for families in vulnerable communities.