Stairway employs a multifaceted approach to address the issue of child sexual abuse. Not only does the organization provide direct intervention to the children themselves, equal emphasis is given to advocacy efforts as well to engage the public in attitude change towards the issue. While intervention work, per se, is important, it is in advocacy where long-term changes could be seen.

As well, Stairway recognizes that various sectors of society be involved in helping a child in need. Thus, various efforts are undertaken to partner with organizations, and equip the concerned general public in dealing with child sexual abuse cases.

The following are aspects of Stairway’s work against child sexual abuse:


 
Compared to direct service intervention, advocacy is not the most tangible child protection approach. Yet it is the most effective way to reform the current culture of silence perpetuating child rights violations. Stairway employs a creative approach to advocacy, using the arts as a means to confront and debate the issues facing children and campaign for the rights of marginalized children worldwide. Animation, music, theater, drawings, paintings, and dance are our mediums for change.

 

Hand in hand with our activities to create public awareness about the issue of child sexual abuse are trainings that we provide to sectors with direct interaction and influence with children. It is not enough for them to say that they are aware that abuse does happen, but they must also feel that they have the capacity to help address this problem. The prevailing ignorance and denial about the issue can be broken with helping the people feel that they can do something about it. Capacity building activities range from giving orientations about child sexual abuse, to enabling them to deal directly with children victims.
 


With Stairway’s campaign to help both children and adults alike to realize that child sexual abuse is a crime that must be acknowledged and stopped, it is inevitable to encounter some disclosures. Stairway thus provides direct intervention services to the children who have disclosed, whether through a short-term residential treatment program, individual and group counseling, accompaniment to government and other agencies, or coordination with the local social welfare officer. However, networking efforts are made to ensure that the child has a support system aside from Stairway.



As child sexual abuse is a complicated issue with a host of physical, psychological, and social consequences, the approach required to address it needed to be multifaceted as well. Not one organization could provide all the needs that a victim and her family have, so Stairway ensures that partnerships are made with organizations that could be tapped to offer their particular expertise to help the child. Partnerships with networks are sought so as to reach a greater number of organizations, and consequently, a wider geographical area to be covered.