Keeping children safe is a common thread that binds us all together, no matter our political or religious differences. An important aspect of safeguarding our children is ensuring that adults and children have accurate information regarding those who prey on victims.
Next week, Anchorage will be asked to vote on Proposition 1, which would repeal the rights of our transgender neighbors, friends and co-workers. One of the messages used to support the repeal says it is for the safety of our children. In other states that have put forward a similar agenda, ads have been run depicting a stranger following a child into the bathroom and leaving viewers with the idea the child will be harmed.
These ads promote the old adage "stranger danger," which is rarely where the danger lies. We are starting to see similar messaging in Alaska. The Alaska Children's Trust and Alaska Children's Alliance, two leading statewide organizations focused on the prevention of child abuse, know firsthand this information is inaccurate. Nationally, approximately 90 percent of children who are sexually abused know the perpetrator. Most child abusers are trusted people like parents, family members, caregivers, coaches, teachers or religious leaders. Most recently, the U.S. Gymnastic Association's team doctor was sentenced to 175 years for abusing over 100 young athletes over the past two decades.
Alaska's history is littered with stories of trusted adults harming our children. One of our darkest times was from the 1960s to the late '80s. More than 110 children in Native villages were molested between 1959 and 1986, raped or assaulted by 12 priests and three church volunteers. An entire generation of Native children in St. Michael were sexually abused by a priest and a church worker.
Between us, we have advocated for safe and happy childhoods for children in our state for 45 years, and we feel it is critical that people understand the true danger to children. As trusted leaders, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that accurate data and appropriate information is shared to ensure the safety of our children. Our bathrooms are as safe today as they were yesterday. The only way to make them safer is to provide accurate information about the real dangers to our children.
Misinformation actually puts our children at greater risk. By empowering parents and caregivers with accurate information, we help them identify risks and develop the skills they need to alleviate the dangers. Parents rely on leaders for this accurate information. When trusted leaders promote inaccurate information, they are creating a distraction from the real dangers and therefore making children more likely to be abused.
To keep children safe from abuse by a trusted person, parents need to engage in direct dialogue with children. Children need to learn when it is OK to say no to an adult or even another child. Children need to learn the proper words for their body parts and understand that there are certain parts of their bodies that are private. Parents need to learn how to identify signs of adults grooming children to be potential victims. We all need to know the warning signs of abuse. And finally, when a child shares a story about an inappropriate encounter with someone you trust, believe them. Take action and report it to authorities.
By taking these steps, we strengthen the safety of our children, whether they are in a bathroom, at rehearsal for a play, or just walking home from school.
Trevor Storrs is the executive director of the Alaska Children's Trust (ACT), the lead statewide agency that addresses the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Pam Karalunas has been involved in the area of child sexual abuse since 1986. For the past 10 years, Pam has served as the chapter coordinator of the Alaska Children's Alliance.