An advocate says better body safety education is needed to help prevent crimes against children.

In January 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador’s court dockets show a total of 377 charges filed across 10 cases involving crimes against children.

Advocate and author of “White Picket Monsters”, Bev Moore Davis, says the child sexual abuse numbers alone are creating a scary time for children and parents.

Moore Davis says 90 per cent of the time, the child knows the perpetrator and 60 per cent of the time, the child and family trust the perpetrator.

She says body safety education can play a big role in keeping children safe.

She says children that are armed with the tools they need to better protect themselves are less vulnerable and less likely to be victimized.