By: Shnell Swain

On Saturday, November 13th, more than 100 concerned adults and children gathered at Piedmont Park in the Midtown area of Atlanta to honor and celebrate the life of Shaniya Davis. On November 10, 2009, beautiful little Shaniya went missing. Two days later, surveillance video from a camera at a nearby motel showed a man in front of an elevator there holding Shaniya in his arms. The man holding Shaniya was identified as an acquaintance of her mom. On Nov. 16, 2009, Shaniya’s body was found. She had been raped and strangled.

In wake of this tragedy, Shaniya’s dad Brad Lockhart founded Shaniya Speaks Inc. a non profit organization where Mr. Lockhart will act as the voice of his daughter and speak out against Child Exploitation, Human Trafficking, and Sexual Crimes against Children. Through his non-profit organization families will be exposed to the wide range of local programs and community services available for prevention to outreach for victims. The Shaniya Speaks organization held the 5 K walk to end child exploitation as a loving tribute to all victims. Proud sponsor and event host Endchildmolestation.com was there along with several other wonderful organizations to offer the community information and resources that help to keep our babies safe. Every child has the right to grow up in a safe environment and to be sheltered from all forms of abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. This environment is only possible when society unites around children's basic rights, openly confronting violence and defending their right to protection. The informative yet fun event did a great job of bringing the community together. Very young children who lack the capacity to report abuse, or older children who fear reprisals by perpetrators should be able to rely on the people around them to take action.

Partnerships between organizations that share the mission to end abuse is very important because we need to empower ourselves with knowledge about child abuse and what we can do as individuals or in groups to stop it. As adults we must encourage others to break their silence and take responsibility for the children around them be it in their home, families or in their communities. We each have an important role to play in ending child exploitation. This pandemic will not simply go away on it’s on. Since the holiday season is when most people enjoy family gatherings, office parties and other social events that require leaving children in the care of others. Let’s be mindful that abuse doesn’t take a holiday break! Therefore, we must not. 

 

Remember to always lovingly monitor those who have access to our children. Few pedophiles are able to resist their powerful urges to initiate sexual contact with children. As a result, child molesters often make efforts to gain access to or authority over children. They take jobs where children are easily approached, or they actively pursue youngsters by befriending parents (particularly single parents), attending events for children, coaching children's sports, chaperoning camping trips, frequenting video arcades or offering baby-sitting services to friends, family and neighbors with children. The majority of pedophiles prefer children on the brink of puberty and prey on a child's sexual ignorance and curiosity. Small groups of militant and highly organized child molesters operate worldwide through pedophile organizations, whose members claim genuine concern for the welfare of children. Members receive monthly magazines and newsletters that include seduction techniques and advice on avoiding detection and prosecution. One group's "Lure of the Month" column gives advice on approaching and seducing children. In one month's column, soap crayons were praised for their effectiveness: "Children undress themselves!" NAMBLA's (The North American Man-Boy Love Association) "Entrapment of the Month" column has alerted.

In addition to attending pedophile conferences and conventions, some child molesters meet via the Internet where they may swap methods, success stories, even names, descriptions and images of children. While the average child molester does not belong to a pedophile organization, it would be foolish not to take seriously any group whose members are committed to sexual activity with children. Indeed, pedophiles are often difficult to detect and can be found in the most unlikely places. Knowing this, we must provide our children with the tools to recognize and avoid potentially abusive individuals and situations. Please visit www.ShaniyaSpeaks.org to find volunteer opportunities or to donate.

This year we urge you make teaching children about good and bad touching your New Year’s resolution! If you are interested in educating yourself and your little loved ones on how to keep them safe, go to www.endchildmolestation.com to get your violence prevention book set. Each set includes a coloring and activity book (boys’ or girls’ edition), a sexual abuse prevention guide for caregivers, and a complimentary box of crayons. The abuse prevention guide is for adults and is intended to help identify and prevent abuse. The coloring book is designed to act as a dialogue initiation tool for caregivers by helping to produce a discussion about good touching and bad touching that is comfortable for both children and adults.

In addition, children learn how to…

• Properly respond to unwanted sexual advances
  
• Establish guidelines for physical interactions
  
• Confidently communicate these guidelines to others
  
  

A good touch can be….

* A handshake
* A high five
* A hug
* A pat on the back

A bad touch can be….

*Any touch that makes you feel weird.
*When someone touches any of your private areas.
*When someone makes you touch any of their private areas.

Shnell Swain
www.endchildmolestation.com
404-492-0244