14/11/2013 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
A girl kneels quietly in a forest, trying to hold back tears. A man’s hand falls onto her shoulder. “Don’t tell your mother,” he says…
Children facing sexual abuse within their family are being encouraged to “break the silence” and speak out about it in a powerful new short video from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) launched today, a week ahead of UN Childrens’ Day (20 November).
Television stations in the Czech Republic, Cyprus and Morocco are considering screening the short film, entitled “The Lake”, which forms part of the ongoing Council of Europe ONE-in-FIVE campaign to fight sexual violence against children, and has been produced with the assistance of the A.G. Leventis Foundation in four languages:
Created by talented young French film-director Roland Edzard, the video graphically illustrates – in the surroundings of an apparently happy family picnic – the psychological pressure that family abusers can apply to their victims.
The clip concludes by appealing directly to victims to “break the silence” by calling the Europe-wide helpline 116 111, which provides anonymous and confidential advice and support to children and young people, including those facing abuse. This number is operational in most EU member states, but for more information about a child helpline in your country, contact Child Helpline International.
Speaking ahead of the launch, film-maker Roland Edzard said: “I wanted to say to young people who are victims of this crime: it IS possible to break the secret pact of silence that your aggressor is imposing on you. And, in practical terms, the number given at the end of the film can help you to do that”.
In a video message delivered ahead of Childrens’ Day, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Jean-Claude Mignon, said he hoped the film would help children to escape the “psychological and physical drama” that many face every day.
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BROADCAST QUALITY
“The Lake” is available in broadcast quality, rights-free and without charge, in a short version (30 seconds) or a long version (2 minutes), in four languages (English, French, German and Greek) as well as in an “international” version (without voices) for dubbing. To receive these, please contact Ulf Ahlberg, [email protected].