The most important thing for you to understand is that sexual abuse is not your fault. There are many forms of sexual abuse and many different processes that must be followed to deal with sexual abuse in schools.

Everybody reacts to sexual abuse differently. Your body may react in a way that you do not expect. You might “freeze” and not be able to think or move. Your body might also make you fight back or run away. It is important to remember that you can’t control your body’s reaction.

We encourage you to talk about your experiences with someone you love and trust. You only need to find ONE person who will help you and make you feel safe. It is also a good idea to ask that person to come with you for support when you follow the steps in this book, like going to the hospital or the police station.

This handbook aims to help you report your case so that whoever is hurting you will stop. Importantly, no one knows how a case will go. If your abuser is not punished as you had hoped, this is not your fault. You cannot control this. But it is important for you to seek help so that you can feel better.