'Inform' (Ireland) Campaign
Background
One Child International has submitted a proposal to the
Irish Government to provide child protection and abuse
prevention information to every household in Ireland. The
purpose is
to ensure that the public is adequately informed about how
to protect their children from abuse. An information
campaign is the cornerstone of any Irish child protection
policy.
The Irish Government has spent in excess of Euro130 million
on compiling reports of
child sexual abuse over the past 10 years. One Child's
campaign would cost 1 (one) Euro per household hold plus
postage.
Research and Test Market
Research was conducted over the Spring of 2010 with meetings
with government representatives, the Gardai (police) and
Irish NGO's reviewing the lack of information available to
the Irish public about child protection.
The result was the development of a printed and on-line
child protection information package. Since late June of
2010 One Child has test marketed this package in various
markets including Ireland, UK, the U.S. Canada, Australia,
New Zealand and Africa. Response has been overwhelmingly
positive.
Protection and prevention package
The package consists of three brochures ('The Four Types of
Child Abuse', 'Physical Abuse: Warning Signs,' and 'Child
Sexual Abuse Explained (for concerned parents)'). Each was
designed to explain, simply and straightforwardly, the four
forms of child abuse in a way that everyone can understand.
See them online
here
Over 110,000 copies of the brochures were ordered by
domestic violence and rape crisis centers, schools,
children’s daycare, the judiciary, child care professionals
and the public in Ireland and worldwide. They have been
provided free, paid for by our organization. The feedback
indicated an urgent need for this information in the format
presented. It also underlined the need for printed
information to supplement online resources.
Inform (Ireland) campaign
The Inform (Ireland) campaign is aimed at providing
our package of information about abuse prevention and child
protection to every household in Ireland – all 1.47 million
of them. This is a unique program, the first of its kind in
Europe. One Child has asked the Irish government to
pay the cost of E1 (one Euro) per household plus postage and
let One Child fulfill the project on their behalf. As a
charity One Child will not profit from this. Any excess
funding to provide a Missing Children/Amber Alert system to
the Irish ISPCC.
Proposal to Government
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, Minister for Children &
Youth Affairs Barry Andrews and Health Service Executive (HSE)
CEO Phil Garland received a proposal on October 14th
outlining the necessity of providing the Irish public with
this information as the cornerstone of any child protection
policy.
Every NGO, the Irish police, the media and peripheral
service providers have received copies of our brochures.
On October 15 and 18, members of the Irish Senate and
Congress (Dail) received a proposal from One Child as well
as a copy of the brochures so that they too can see what is
available for their constituents.
Media coverage: (Here)
