Sexual harassment of children and young people has increased – schools, upper secondary educational institutions and youth centres help children identify and react to harassment

The results of the biennial School Health Survey show that sexual harassment of children and young people has become more common. Especially in social media, sexual harassment has become such a common phenomenon that some children and young people consider it a normal part of social media. This is why children and young people must be helped to identify sexual harassment. Identification is also important in order to prevent someone from committing sexual harassment out of ignorance.

That is why it is important that sexual harassment is discussed in schools, upper secondary education and the city’s youth centres. The goal is for children and young people to learn how to recognise the phenomenon and what to do if they fall victim to it. Discussions of the topic start in grade 5 and continue until upper secondary education, and the discussions are held in an age-appropriate manner.

The municipalities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa, have decided to address the topic in order to support the work carried out in schools and youth centres in relation to the topic. A support package has been prepared to help teachers and youth workers hold age-appropriate discussions about the topic with children and young people.

Preparing the support package involved interviewing experts from different fields, including the police, the coordinator of cities’ youth services, the senior school social worker and a specialist in tackling bullying. The police’s advice is to encourage children and young people to have an open conversation with a trusted adult. The conversations can take place at school, youth centres, upper secondary education and home. If something a child or young person tells you sounds concerning, please contact the authorities.

Sexual harassment is most common on social media
Sexual harassment can occur in public spaces, at home or online. In social media channels, sexual harassment experienced by young people is typically sexual messages and images sent to them. Face-to-face interaction also involves physical sexual actions.

In recent years, the sending of sexually explicit images, in particular, has become more common among young people, as the taking and sharing of any kind of images and videos has become more commonplace. Sexual harassment on social media has become such a common phenomenon that some young people think it is a normal part of social media.

“The younger a person is, the more difficult it can be for them to realise that they are a victim of sexual abuse. Groomers, that is, adults who persuade minors to engage in sexual activities, can be very skilled at first gaining the trust of a child or young person by asking questions about their daily life and complimenting their appearance, and then gradually manipulating the child or young person into engaging in a sexual activity,” says Annina Lehtonen from the Western Uusimaa Police Department who specializes in assault and sexual offences targeting children.

Teachers and youth workers help young people identify and respond to harassment
This autumn, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area municipalities have produced materials to support teachers and youth workers in discussing sexual harassment with children and young people. The support material for adults includes explanations of concepts, discussion questions and participatory assignments to support discussing the phenomenon. Alongside the support material, you can watch videos that help identify sexual harassment, produced by Save the Children Finland.

The phenomenon of sexual harassment will be addressed in an age-appropriate manner in schools and youth facilities during this year, from grade 5 to upper secondary education. The themes to be covered include the different concepts of sexual harassment, sexually explicit images, young people being bribed in the context of sexual actions, grooming and groomers’ multiple victims, as well as how to get help and how to file a report. The goal is for young people to learn to identify sexual harassment and to know what to do if they fall victim to it. Another goal is to make sure young people are educated on the topic and do not inadvertently commit acts that meet the characteristics of sexual harassment.

Adults are obligated to report any suspicions to authorities
Every adult is obliged to notify the police and the child welfare authorities if they suspect that a child or young person has been sexually harassed. However, just filing a notification is not enough; the adult must ensure that the child or young person also receives sufficient support for their situation.

“We at the police want people to contact us without hesitation if they have even the slightest suspicion of sexual abuse targeting a child or young person. Only in this way will we be able to intervene and possibly hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions,” Lehtonen say.

How to protect children and young people online:
1. It is important to ask the child or young person in an everyday conversation about what is happening on their social media and how they view social media. 
2. It is also good to ask if something that felt unpleasant or confusing to the child or young person has happened.
3. Be interested in the affairs of your child or young person – this makes it easier to discuss any concerns.
4. Sexual education includes providing children and young people with information about online sexual harassment. This is an important tool for protecting children and young people.

You can contact the police of the Nettivihje hotline of Save the Children Finland to report any actions or material you suspect to be related to the sexual harassment of a child or young person. You an also contact your school or educational institution. The emergency number is 112.