You must not be bullied or hurt

The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that adults must protect you from all forms of abuse, such as violence, sexual exploitation and other forms of mistreatment. No one is allowed to hurt you, no matter if they are members of your family, relatives, friends or acquaintances.

Always tell an adult that you trust if someone hurts you, bullies you or touches you in a way that does not feel right. Do not keep it to yourself. No one is allowed to ask you to keep such matters secret.

What does this mean?

Violence can be physical, for example when someone causes you bodily harm or touches you against your will or in an inappropriate way, but it can also be emotional, for example when someone insults you, calls you names, excludes you from their company or ignores you.

If someone touches parts of your body that would be covered by a swimsuit, it may constitute sexual abuse. Your body is private, and no one is allowed to touch it without your permission. Trust your feelings: you know what does and does not feel right for you. If someone touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, say ‘no’ and tell an adult that you trust about the incident.

You may also experience bullying, emotional abuse and exploitation online. Be careful when using the internet and tell an adult if a message or contact feels frightening or strange.