By Jenelle DaSilva-Rupchand

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, child sexual abuse “occurs when a child is used for sexual purposes by an adult or adolescent.” In Canada, about 8,800 cases of such assaults were reported in 2002. More often than not, victims keep quiet about the abuse they experience usually because they fear retaliation from the abuser, blame themselves for the ill-treatment, or are ashamed of their predicament. So it would be more than nice if you could help put an end to this by participating in Youth Out Loud’s Walk to End Child Sexual Abuse today.
Youth Out Loud will host an awareness fair at Yonge-Dundas Square from noon to 4 p.m. Performers and speakers include Judy Rebick, social justice activist and founder of rabble.ca, womanist and poet Roberta Timothy, and taiko drummers Raging Asian Women (RAW). Registration opens at 11 a.m. for the march at 1 p.m. Pledges go towards the Youth Out Loud Survivor Fund and BOOST (formerly known as Toronto Child Abuse Centre). Even if you can’t manage to collect pledges, still feel free to join in the walk. Do it for the kids.
If you suspect a child is being sexually abused, please contact a local support service such as BOOST immediately.
Photo by on_the_farm.