Raising Awareness
Let's Talk
Raising Awareness
Let's Talk
Campaign to Empower Children Against Sexual Abuse
My Body is Precious
Child Protection
Childhood should be a time of innocence and wonder as children are guided with love and care in gradually maturing, learning from new experiences and understanding and appreciating the world around them. Unfortunately, for far too many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different and challenging. Throughout history, children have been abused and exploited, oftentimes by those charged with the responsibility of protecting them. Throughout her tenure as Special Envoy, Mrs. Simplis Barrow has focused on safety and protection for children.
My Body is Precious
In 2013, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow embarked on a public education campaign titled “My Body is Precious.” The Campaign sought to empower children and adolescents with information on sexual abuse and exploitation. She co-authored two books as a part of the campaign. The first was a child-friendly book on sexual abuse prevention that targets 6 to 10-year-olds. This book was launched in April 2013 and resulted in a countrywide tour that included the dramatization of the book and a song.
The dramatization of My Body is Precious, organized by the National Institute for Culture and History, was incorporated into the book launch to further ensure that children would be more receptive to the message. The dramatization featured a catchy theme song written by talented Belizean artist, Tanya Carter.
My Body Is Precious | Sing Along
Mi Cuerpo es Precioso (Spanish)
With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in 2019, Mrs. Simplis Barrow was able to produce Spanish-language versions of the My Body Is Precious books.
These books were distributed to school children in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts.
My Body is Precious: For Adolescents
The My Body is Precious edition for adolescent girls was launched as a part of a countrywide “Girl Empowerment” speaking tour in early 2014.
While on tour, Mrs. Simplis Barrow spoke to the adolescent girls about the importance of knowing their rights, building self-esteem, sexual abuse and seeking help and/or advice. The tour included empowerment speeches as well as artistic performances.
My body is Precious
My Body is Precious Animation Launch
In addition to releasing the My Body is Precious books, the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to create an animated cartoon of the book in English, Maya, and Garifuna. The animations were launched in March 2015 to disseminate the child abuse prevention message to diverse communities.
In September 2018, the Office of the Special Envoy in partnership with IDB released the Spanish versions of the My Body is Precious books along with the Spanish version of the animated cartoon.
My Body is Precious | English
My Body is Precious | Spanish
My Body is Precious | Maya
