Definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or key concepts; they help us to all be on the same page when discussing or reading about a specific subject.  

Protector

Is a person who cares, defends or watches over another person (or thing) to ensure that the other is safe.​

Children's rights

Are basic standards to which every child is entitled to.
Every child has the right to live and grow with dignity. Children have the right to protection, provision and participation.
UNICEF - Convention on the Rights of the Child

Shelter

A shelter is a place which provides protection from different things. It is often a safe temporary place where one can go to get away from danger.​

 Primary victim
​​
Someone who has experienced some form of trauma, be it emotional, sexual, psychological or physical.

 Secondary victim
​
​"A person who is present at the scene of an act of violence and who is injured as a direct result of witnessing the act."1
When a person is a victim of crime others are affected too. Parents, loved ones, children, and friends have many of the same emotions and struggles as the primary victim. 
​ 1(https://www.cafyonline.org/get-help/survivor-resources/secondary-victims/)

Safe touch

Safe touch respects a child's boundaries and well-being.
"Healthy touch is protective from child abuse." https://www.d2l.org/get-trained/
Article: Good vs Bad touch

Child abuse

"Is any form of physical, emotional and/or sexual mistreatment that causes emotional damage to the child.
 The misuse of power and/or a breach of trust are part of all types of child abuse."
[1] https://www.redcross.ca/

Bystander​

Is a person who is present in a situation but is not directly involved in it. In relation to child abuse, a bystander is someone who witnesses an unsafe interaction. 

Active bystander​

A person who stands up to stop/mitigate a situation of abuse. Being an active bystander can literally save a child's life; a trained bystander can recognize an unsafe situation and is able to take action to safely intervene. 

Grooming

Is the slow and meticulous process of building trust and comfort with a child (and often, his/her family) by an adult or person in a position of power, as a means to be able to gain access to the child to abuse him/her.

Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a type of emotional abuse where the bully or abuser misleads and confuses the victim, creating a false narrative and making the victim question his/her own judgment. The victim of gaslighting starts to feel unsure about how things happened, to the point where they will believe whatever their abusers tell them, instead of the actual facts.

Safe Person

 Someone who:
- can get them help if they’re ever hurt or unsafe.
- doesn’t break the safety rules, or try to get the child to break them.
- never asks them to keep a secret.
- the child feels comfortable with and can easily talk to about things that may be difficult to talk about.
- the child can trust them to keep him/her safe.