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Several safeguarding organisations/individuals have shared Finkelhor’s work on here over time. This is a vital graphic for everyone to understand if we want to help prevent the sexual abuse of children. As a society we seem to be at the third stage of the four; we are actively creating opportunities for potential predators to take. We are also actively granting potential predators access to children while, simultaneously, framing safeguarding voices as hateful and bigoted. This access is not only being granted to more men because of trans identities, either. There is a general trend towards making room for overt, and inappropriate, displays of sexuality in society. Including in front of, or involving, children. In addition there are narratives floating about, both from queer theorists and, sadly, from some gender critical voices that suggest children have sexualities. The sexualisation of children is of further benefit to predators. Do not facilitate any adult in blurring the lines between adult behaviour and childhood. Important methods for the prevention of child sexual abuse can include general deterrence, early detection, and specific deterrence. So it is very important to think about how society, and us as individuals, should be acting in order to deter predators. We should all have a good grasp of what is normal behaviour, and what is abnormal behaviour, in order to help with early detection. How we respond to those who raise red flags is also important. Taking it seriously, and treating it calmly, instead of reacting defensively or in panic. The knowledge of what constitutes abnormal behaviour is increasingly being lost as men in harnesses, and mini skirts, bring their paraphilias to work, or out into the public sphere, and are celebrated for it. As men do things such as watch porn openly on the train, without serious repercussions, as well. While the focus of this post is abuse against children, the consequences of lowering everyone’s guard and normalising sexual misconduct, will almost inevitably be the increase of sexual abuse against people of all ages. It is important to recognise the signs of abusive behaviour (or potential for abuse) even in those closest to us and, where necessary, seek help or information about what actions to take. Other crucial ways to reduce the risk of serious offending can include having preventative measures in place, having robust safeguarding policies and protocols for organisations and institutions to follow, and considering ways to reduce opportunity. There are lots of ways to reduce opportunity; everything from social mores, to the physical design of certain spaces children use. I.E well lit, not isolated, and single sex areas will necessarily be safer. In addition, we must give potential child victims the tools that will help protect them. This includes granting them the ability to speak up about any kind of man who makes them uncomfortable. In the service of this no group of people can be a sacred caste. We also need to stop helping to distort children’s sense of what they should have to tolerate for the sake of adults. Part of this work involves no longer distorting what adults should have to tolerate for the sake of other adults, too. Adults who feel able to speak up clearly, and quickly, will be more likely to speak up for children. We should be using clear language, and holding clear boundaries, in order to protect others. We each have a responsibility to stand in the way of those people, most of whom will be men, who want to harm children. There is, of course, much more to know than I have included in this post, but this is just a place to start.