Free from violence week 2024

This year we talk about sexual violence and sexual harassment on the theme week – and above all about, how one can respect and protect one´s own and other person´s sexual self-determination and physical integrity.

During the theme week we will also reflect on, how children and young persons can be protected from age-inappropriate sexual influences in everyday life, where social media is increasingly present. Which methods do parents have to teach children and young person´s how they can protect themselves? What should you do if you are the victim of a crime?

Program:

Tuesday 26.11.24 Open for everybody Turvassa seksuaaliväkivallalta – miten suojelen lastani? (Safe from sexual violence – how do I protect my child?)  - Podcast Väkivallaton VAKE – YouTube-kanavalla (VAKE without violence – YouTube channel) .  Maija Ikonen and Janette Tasa from Save the Children Finland are discussing factors that protect from sexual violence.

Below we have put together tips and links, which can help to address this topic with children and young persons of different ages.

Early childhood education and lower classes of primary education:

Themes listed below are discussed in children’s groups with the lead of an adult: 

• Every human is valuable. Valuable things are taken care of. You are a treasure!
• How do you protect your own body?

The subject can be approached for instance by talking about what can be done and can´t be done to your own body. What feels comfortable and what feels discomfortable? How should one act, when someone else breaks the boundaries of your own body? 

These skills should be practised together:

• When you encounter a situation online or in everyday life, which is scaring or confusing, or someone asks you to do things, which you don´t want to do, learn to stop (STOP) before you do anything. Say directly to the other one, if he/she does something or suggests things, which you don´t like.
• If you encounter a situation that is new to you, which you must think little bit about, you can take a time-out (SLOW) and talk about it to an adult you know, before you do anything. It never hurts to think!
• When the thing or situation over all feels safe, you can act (GO).
• In which situations should you stop or take a time-out?

You can also name body parts by drawing and playing games. You can talk while drawing, about what you especially like in your own body or appearance and on the other hand which parts of the body especially must be protected. 

Information about the theme can be found in the links below:

Senja tells, what the bathing suite rule is (in finnish): https://areena.yle.fi/1-50110935

Väestöliittos material for education about body sensation; https://www.vaestoliitto.fi/ammattilaiset/lasten-kehotunnekasvatus/verkkokurssit-ja-materiaalit/materiaalit-mallit-ja-tyokalut/

Stopp! Min kropp! är ett konkret verktyg att använda i samtal om känslor, kroppen och gränser. (My body! is a specific tool to be used i discussions about feelings, the body and boundaries) Materialet är lärorikt och spännande för barnen – och enkelt att använda för dig som vuxen: (The material is is educational and exciting for children - and easy to use for you as an adult: https://www.raddabarnen.se/rad-och-kunskap/foralder/stopp-min-kropp/arbetsmaterial/ 

• Someturvas lessons for different school grades: 
• in finnish https://www.someturva.fi/lessons/schools/
• in swedish https://www.someturva.fi/sv-fi/lessons/schools/
• subtitles in english https://www.someturva.fi/en-fi/lessons/schools/  

Protect Children increases awareness about the phenomenon about sexual violence against children and strengthens the protection of children, so these crimes can be prevented: www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en

Upper classes in primary education and upper secondary education:

Someturvas materials for lessons include video and instructions in PDF format for school professionals on how to hold lessons for different school grades. Materials for lessons are available:

• in finnish https://www.someturva.fi/lessons/schools/ 
• in swedish https://www.someturva.fi/sv-fi/lessons/schools/ 
• subtitles in english https://www.someturva.fi/en-fi/lessons/schools/ 

Väestöliittos "consent to sexual acts" animation: Suostumus seksuaalisiin tekoihin - animation, spoken in finnish (youtube.com)

Save the Children Finlands material:

Information about the Finnish hotline Nettivihje activities: Nettivihje and what we do to prevent sexual violence - Save the Children 

For young people - Information about sharing nude pictures and sexually explicit messages: mun-keho-mun-rajat-2021.pdf (pelastakaalapset.fi)

For young people - Information about sharing nude pictures and sexually explicit messages:  min-kropp-mina-granser-2021_sv.pdf (pelastakaalapset.fi) (my-body-my-boundaries)

Professionals working with children and other adults: Kehoni on minun - Pelastakaa Lapset (My body is mine - Save the Children)

Wellbeing services county of Vantaa and Keravas videos for young people:

Video serie to support young people´s mental wellbeing: Nuoren toipuminen väkivaltakokemuksesta (Young people’s recovery from a voilent experience) 

Resource and solution-oriented psychoeducation for young people who has encounted bullying and violence. The entity consists of three parts: PART 1: Bullying and violence PART 2: Secure and unsecure relationships PART 3: Purpose, hope, future: Matkaeväitä mielelle – oppitunnit (Material for the mind – lessons

Rikosuhripäivystys (Victim support) material for young people:

Rikosuhripäivystys offers support and counselling free of charge for crime victims, their close ones and those who are witnesses in criminal cases: Rikosuhripäivystys services

Did you encounter for instance bullying, harassment or violence? Don´t be alone. Tell about the matter to a trustworthy adult. In RIKUchat you get help free of charge and with low threshold: Kohtasitko kiusaamista tai väkivaltaa? (Did you encount bullying or violence?) Hae apua RIKUchatista (Get help in RIKUchat)

Information about the criminal procedure: Criminal procedure 

Information about the subject: Children and young people victims of crime 

Help and support in situations, where violence occurs: Väkivallaton VAKE | Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county (vakehyva.fi)