When you you become an adult, you are expected to offer safety, protection and an ear to the little ones in the society. However, the world has proven in several cases that not all adults are safe.

What Unsafe Behavior Looks Like

When an adult crosses the line when they might do these things: Touch your private areas or ask you to touch theirs, show you pornographic images or videos, ask you to take off your clothes for no medical reason, send you sexual messages or ask for photos of your body or tell you "this is our secret" or "no one will believe you."

You must pay keen attention to such details because it might be a relative, a family friend, a teacher, a religious leader, a neighbor or someone your parents trust. That is what makes it so confusing for most of us. The person hurting you may also be someone you love.

Why You Might Not Tell Anyone

At times you feel ashamed even though you did nothing wrong. You might be led to think it was your fault because you did not say no loudly enough or you were afraid no one will believe you. In other cases, you do not want to get the person in trouble or you have been threatened. Maybe they said they would hurt you or your family if you speak.

These feelings are normal, however, they are traps. Staying silent protects the abuser not you and here is what to do in response;

• Tell someone you trust until someone believes you; A parent, a teacher, a school matron,a religious leader or an older sibling.
• If the first person does not believe you tell the next person. Basically, keep telling until someone helps you.
• Go to a health facility. Do not bathe or change clothes first if the abuse happened recently. Doctors can collect evidence and give you medicine to prevent HIV and pregnancy.
• Call 1195. It is free and it is confidential. Moreover, they are open 24 hours a day.

What Happens When You Report

The abuser may get arrested. You may have to give a statement which can be scary, but it is also how you protect yourself and other children they might hurt. You are not responsible for what happens to the abuser. They are responsible for their own actions.