Thread by @docbhooshan

I am happy to see that "no-go-tell" training program (nobadtouch.com) is now in textbooks.

I must warn about a serious error in govt version.
Please read on. This is vital.
#Thread

https://twitter.com/longhandnotes/status/1414233887291494409

For whatever reasons, "good touch-bad touch" has become buzzword with NGOs and Govt agencies.

They feel compelled to include "Good Touch" in every discussion about Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA).

This is highly dangerous and may make children MORE vulnerable.

Reasons -
1. 85-95% CSA happens at home. From people depicted as "good touch" in various programs.
2. Abusers groom children for a considerable time before moving on with sexual assault. Grooming involves various techniques INCLUDING so called "good touch".

3. Asking a child to differentiate touches in environment of fear, shame, discomfort is like asking Virat Kohli to sing dhrupad while facing Anderson on a green top. - impossible task.
4. Training about touch in NO-TOUCH areas no matter who does that touch, is essential.

I may know where this compulsion to include "good touch" comes from.
My guess -
1. Typical indian discomfort of talking about bad things without sugarcoating it. (Most benign cause)
2. Need to protect tradition of touching child anywhere without thinking, especially by "uncles"

3. My most paranoid and angry thought - abusers have actually infiltrated this training and want to normalize bad-touch under disguise of good touch.

I leave it to you to decide what you want for your children.

Most important components of this safety training are -
1. Establishing no-touch areas.
2. NO-GO-TELL sequence of action
3. Establishing close loop of specific understanding with a SAFE ADULT.

Any change in this leads to dilution of message rendering it ineffective.

Any person with experience of childhood sexual abuse or experience of working with abused children will tell you that my serious objections to include anything like "Good Touch" in safety training are correct.

I hope @smritiirani ji takes this on her agenda and help protect kids

Details of correct safety training - nobadtouch.com

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