Some brave schoolgirls in my country have spoken out about sexual harassment by teachers. The reaction of the children’s ombudsman? “Children and adolescents are strong enough to say “no”.”

What the actual FUCK?!

He says that sensitive incidents should not be debated in public and we should not organise a “witch hunt”.

A teacher had been sexually harassing female students with impunity for YEARS. He’s now been suspended - only after the girls went to the press.

He even goes so far as to imply the actions of the girls were “spiteful”

Such cases should be handled “sensitively” in an environment where the privacy of “all involved” is protected.

Not a word about the actual complaints of the girls and their suffering.

What hope is there when the children’s ombudsman that’s supposed to stand up for the rights of children sounds like an MRA?

I can only imagine how disappointed and abandoned these girls must feel after sending an open letter to this man which took enormous courage.

These children literally spoke about the culture of silence surrounding sexual harassment in schools, and the ombudsman for children tells them to stay quiet and talk about this only behind closed doors? He is failing children terribly.

He advocates an environment “where all of this can be done in a safe environment and the personal rights of all those involved are respected". There should be no “finger-pointing”. Excuse me? Teachers sexually harassing children SHOULD have a finger pointed at them!

And saying children and adolescents should be “educated” to say “no” and assert their boundaries is pure victim blaming. Why aren’t we talking about the responsibility of the adults who are supposed to educate, not hurt these children?

Why aren’t we talking about the duty of care of the school boards (including the one at my girls’ school) who for years have refused to act on allegations of sexual harassment by teachers? Why are we talking about “mediation” instead of safeguarding?

If the one institution that has child safeguarding as its main mission places responsibility for avoiding being sexually harassed with children and protects perpetrators, what hope do we have that children will be protected?

I’d love to have your take on this @DrJessTaylor.

Oh, and yesterday parliament rejected a bill to ban Pornhub for spreading images of child sexual abuse. Can we connect the dots please?