During Elliot Costello’s visit to Cambodia, he had a life-changing encounter with a young girl named Thea. Little did Elliot anticipate that this meeting would profoundly impact him and lead to the initiation of a movement dedicated to eradicating child sexual abuse.
Thea was notable for always having nail polish on her tiny nails. As they conversed one day, she requested to paint one of Elliot’s nails. He agreed, engaging in conversation with the talkative girl. It was during this conversation that he learned Thea had been a victim of sexual abuse.
“While she painted one of my nails, I assured her that I would always keep it that way to remember her and, by extension, her suffering,” Elliot recounted.
This experience served as a powerful motivator for Elliot to work towards instigating positive change among men, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of children who become victims of sexual abuse.
It was during this time that he conceived the movement known as #PolishedMan, in which men apply nail polish to one of their nails. This symbolic act represents the one in five children who will fall victim to sexual violence.
The mission of Polished Man is to combat and ultimately eliminate sexual violence against children. As outlined by the organization, “Being a Polished Man means taking a stand against violent behavior and language, both locally and globally.”
Elliot firmly believes that since men are responsible for 96% of such violence against children on a global scale, they must play a pivotal role in driving change if we are to witness an end to the horrendous abuse suffered by innocent children.
The purpose behind the painted nail goes beyond simply reminding people of the alarming number of children who endure daily abuse. It aims to initiate conversations about this grim reality, fostering new ideas and approaches to prevention. Additionally, the hope is that individuals will be motivated to contribute by donating to support educational programs and resources for child survivors of abuse, as reported by APlus.
We aspire to see an increased participation of men in this movement, including celebrities.
Kindly share this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
