“Erin’s Law” spreading across US to help protect children against abuse

World Today

"Erin's Law" spreading across US to help protect children against abuse

With the scandal continuing with China’s RYB Education, we look at how the U.S. is trying to reduce rates of child abuse.

CGTN’s Toby Muse reports.
Follow Toby Muse on Twitter @tobymuse

How have other countries responded when faced with cases of abuse of children? The U.S. is implementing something called Erin’s Law, which seeks to help children spot and report sexual abuse.

The law is named after Erin Merryn, herself a victim of sexual abuse. She has become a public figure, touring the country pushing for individual states to pass the law.

This law mandates that schools must have programs that teach children how to recognize if they’re being sexually abused and also how to report such abuse.

Programs must also instruct teachers and parents how to talk to children about sexual abuse and how to spot the telltale signs.

Parents are taught that warning signs a child may be being abused include: mood swings, a child isolating him or herself, nightmares and depression.

The first version of the law was passed in Illinois in 2011. It’s since been enacted in 30 more states. Erin is committed to pushing the law be passed in all 50 states.

You can learn more at: http://www.erinslaw.org/