XN000022-1996-04-11 — Page 18

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A television announcement of public interest (TV AP1), presented in three-dimensional computer graphics featuring two friendly cartoon characters - Toto (penguin) and Bobo (dinosaur) to convey the message of the need for young children to protect themselves against sexual abuse.

A 32-page illustrated booklet, featuring Toto and Bobo again to provide more detailed information on sell-protection,

A radio announcement of public interest with similar message.

An opinion survey by the Centre for Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Research of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to gauge the public's attitude towards child abuse, with special attention on child sexual abuse.

Mr Yau added that the second and third stage of the campaign would be targeted more on parents and minders, advising them how to identify and handle child sexual abuse cases.

Commenting on the problem itself, the Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Family and Child Welfare), Mrs Patricia Chu, said that child sexual abuse takes place when children are involved in sexual activity, both physical and non-physical, through force, deception, ingratiating acts or any other method to satisfy the sexual desire or other purposes of the perpetrator, who may be individuals closely related to the child or being total strangers.

With the publicity efforts of both government and non-governmental organisations, the public is more aware of the problem of child sexual abuse, Mrs Chu

said.

"The number of active child sexual abuse cases has risen from 61 in 1993, to 77 in 1994 and 116 in 1995. The percentage of child sexual abuse cases as compared to the total number of child abuse cases has also risen from 14.7% in 1993, to -17.1% in 1994 and 20.1% in 1995.

"It is encouraging to find that, among the 116 active cases in 1995, 27 of them (23%) were reported by family members or the child. This reflected that the child victims and family members have become more ready to bring the problem to light and to seek help when child sexual abuse occurs," Mrs Chu said.

Apart from the territory-wide publicity campaign launched today, Mrs Chu said localised prevention programmes are organised by the District Committees on Child Abuse to strengthen prevention of the problem. These committees were set up to promote co-operation among multi-disciplinary professionals in combating the problem at district level.