[FCN Announcements] Nudists Find Toronto Police Service Press Release Ambiguous

[public at lists.fcn.ca]

Nudists Find Toronto Police Service Press Release Ambiguous

The Federation of Canadian Naturists, like everyone else, is committed  
to stopping sex offenders and to helping their victims. However, we  
take exception to the Toronto Police Service Sex Crime Unit's (New  
Release May 13, 2010, 10h56 http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/pdfs/18811.pdf) 
  characterization that the accused "gained access to children through  
his affiliation with various nudist organizations around the world".

Unlike organized sports, religious institutions and other activities  
coordinated by civic organizations, children in naturism are not left  
in the care of a person in authority. Naturism is based on family  
participation and children are usually in the care of their parents.  
As such, being affiliated with a naturist/nudist organization would  
not provide any more access than joining any other group. In fact,  
children in naturism may be less vulnerable because naturist  
environments tend to have a stronger sense of community than the  
general society. People in naturist clubs look out for each other and  
are very aware of what is happening in their environment. Individuals  
with nefarious intent are often easier to identify if they are in a  
naturist environment.

A multitude of scholarly research studies on this topic in psychology  
and sociology have shown that children reared in an atmosphere  
containing casual family social nudity benefit from the practice.  
Children raised in naturism learn to accept the human body and  
recognize that everyone is unique. Comfort with nudity combined with  
naturist values lead to a healthy self-image and strong self-esteem.  
Although good parenting is by far the most important factor in raising  
children, naturism helps to promote their confidence and understanding  
about their bodies.

It is clear that being dressed has not kept children safe. Those who  
prey on children are attracted to any place where children can be  
found. It is a sad reality that predators have been found as priests,  
teachers, scout leaders, hockey coaches, etc... It is therefore  
unrealistic to suggest that we should avoid any place that might  
attract them since we would rob our children of all of those  
institutions that are so important to their upbringing.

The best thing we can do is to teach our children the confidence to  
speak up when people do things that make them uncomfortable. If they  
are not ashamed of their bodies, they are much more likely to tell  
their parents when someone does things to them that they don't like.  
If we are informed, we can help them. Whether nude or clothed,  
children should know that being touched in certain ways is wrong and  
they should have the assertiveness to speak up.





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