National Child Protection Week
National Child Protection Week is a campaign held annually across Australia to raise awareness of child abuse prevention.
The objectives of the week are to raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection. Protecting children from sexual exploitation is a whole of community responsibility.
National Child Protection Week also aims to create an Australia-wide focus for child protection, allowing government and non-government agencies to present a cooperative and coordinated community oriented campaign.
The AFP will continue to be involved in this important campaign under its mandate of reducing the incidence and impact of aggravated online child sexual exploitation and Australians travelling for the purposes of offending against children.
When a child is abused, the physical and mental pain can last a lifetime.
Sadly, according to the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) over 35,000 Australian children were proven to have been abused or neglected last year.
If you have been abused or have any information relating to the abuse or exploitation of children, report it immediately.
It is timely to remind parents and carers that they need to have age appropriate conversations with their children about personal safety and what to do if they find themselves in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Key prevention initiatives are delivered by the AFP, including the ThinkUKnow program, to raise awareness and educate the community about preventing online child sexual exploitation.
