Bad things happen when good people say nothing. Bad people are emboldened when good people do nothing.

As we have seen in recent months, sexual abuse is far more prevalent in our country and our own backyard than anyone wants to admit. It is insidious and it is everywhere – offices, churches, athletic facilities, the halls of government and, yes, even schools.

We have a sacred obligation to protect our keiki – the most vulnerable people in our communities – from sexual predators, many of whom are people the victim knows.

According to data from the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 4 American girls, and 1 in 6 American boys, are sexually abused before they turn 18.

According to Darkness To Light, a nonprofit committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse, 90 percent of child sexual abuse is committed by people who are known and trusted by their victims. And nearly 70 percent of all sexual assault victims in the U.S. are children under the age of 18.

In Hawaii alone, there are more than 3,400 registered sex offenders, and we know countless sex crimes go unreported.

Amid all this bad news, however, there is some good news. The Hawaii Legislature is scheduled to consider a bill in early 2018 that will provide valuable assistance to Hawaii’s children.

The bill is known as Erin’s Law, named after Erin Merryn, a survivor of child sexual abuse who is now working tirelessly to pass legislation in every state to provide school children with greater protection against sexual predators.

Key provisions in the bill require all public schools to implement age-appropriate, prevention-oriented education programs to inform school personnel, parents, and students about child sexual abuse.

Students from pre-K through 12th grade will be taught age-appropriate techniques for recognizing child sexual abuse and telling a trusted adult.

School personnel will be taught to notice signs of sexual abuse, what to do when sexual abuse is suspected, and their legal obligations to protect children from suspected sexual abuse.

Parents and guardians will be taught the signs of child sexual abuse, the signs of adults who may be abusing their children, how to provide assistance to their sexually abused children and where they can go for resources and support.

Merryn visited Oahu in October and spoke to a sold-out crowd about her own horrific experience and the importance of this legislation. I was heartened to see her receive a warm and enthusiastic reception by our community. The audience included educators, nonprofit community leaders, government officials and concerned citizens.

Support for the bill is gaining momentum in Hawaii. Similar legislation has already been passed in 31 states, and bills are pending in 15 states. The law works. Erin’s Law is credited for helping put a Maryland man behind bars for 48 years and an Illinois man for 40. We do not want to be the 50th state to pass this bill.

It is absolutely critical that our elected representatives do what’s right and pass this legislation. Passage will not only help protect our children from heinous attacks that can scar victims both physically and emotionally for their entire lives, it will also send a powerful message to would-be predators that we won’t tolerate this any longer.

We won’t turn a blind eye to this epidemic. We won’t embolden predators by remaining silent. We won’t pretend the problem doesn’t exist.

The good people of our state have the opportunity to speak up and take action to protect Hawaii’s keiki.

The time to pass Erin’s Law is now.

Ryan Kusumoto is president of Parents And Children Together and an advocate for Hawaii’s most vulnerable families.