On May 22nd, a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore was abducted, sexually assaulted and killed by a 33-year-old neighbour.

This horrific incident cannot just be another headline we discuss for a week and then forget. Recent NCRB reporting indicates that Tamil Nadu has recorded roughly 5,000 to 7,000 POCSO cases per year in the recent years. How many more children must we lose before we admit that we lack systemic prevention measures?

We urgently call upon the Government of Tamil Nadu to make mandatory age-appropriate Child Safety & Consent Education a part of the curriculum in ALL schools across the state.

This is not about “teaching sex” to children.

This is about teaching children:

that their body belongs to them,
how to identify unsafe behaviour,
how to say no,
how to seek help,
how to recognize grooming and manipulation,
and that no adult — even a familiar person — has the right to violate their boundaries.

Many abused children do not even realize they are being abused.
Many stay silent because they are afraid, confused, or ashamed.

Education can save lives.

Countries around the world have shown that age-appropriate body safety and consent education helps children:

recognize danger earlier,
report abuse sooner,
resist manipulation,
and develop healthier attitudes toward respect and boundaries.

We request the Tamil Nadu Government to immediately:

• Introduce mandatory Child Safety & Consent Education in schools from primary level onward.
• Create age-appropriate curriculum modules for different age groups.
• Train teachers and school staff in child protection and sensitive handling.
• Appoint trained counsellors and child protection officers in schools.
• Conduct annual awareness sessions for parents.
• Strengthen school reporting mechanisms under POCSO guidelines.
• Include online safety, grooming awareness, and digital abuse prevention in the curriculum.

Every child deserves safety, awareness, and the confidence to speak up.

We cannot protect children only through punishment after a crime.

We must do everything in our power to prevent these crimes before they happen.

If you believe children deserve safer schools, safer communities, and the knowledge to protect themselves, please sign and share this petition.

#ChildSafety #ProtectChildren #TamilNadu #POCSO #ConsentEducation #Coimbatore #SchoolSafety #EndChildAbuse