Support for family members

Are you a worried friend or relative?

As a friend or relative of someone who has been, or who you think may have been, a victim of paid sexual abuse, it can be difficult to know how best to support and help. Of course, the type of support that the person needs and wants varies. Some talk about it openly, while many try to hide it from their loved ones, for example because of fear of how they will react.

If you suspect or know that someone close to you has been victimized, you can:

• Ask in a non-judgmental way if the person has these experiences.
• If you don’t know how to start the conversation, you can use this campaign as a conversation opener, for example. Tell them you’ve seen it and see what kind of reactions you get from the child, is there an opportunity to ask more?
• Tell the person that you are worried.
• Tell them you are there if and when they want to tell you more.
• Listen without questioning, pressuring or blaming.
• Encourage and help the person to seek support, for example from one of these organizations.

If the child has been victimized, it is important to explain that the person has not done anything wrong and that they have been the victim of a crime. We always recommend reporting to the police. This is to ensure that the victim receives redress and help to avoid feeling guilty, but also to prevent the perpetrator from victimizing more children.