Child Abuse

When a perpetrator intentionally harms a minor physically, psychologically,

sexually, or by acts of neglect, the crime is known as child abuse. This page
focuses specifically on child sexual abuse and the warning signs that this crime
may be occurring.

What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse that includes sexual activity with a
minor. A child cannot consent to any form of sexual activity, period. When a
perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can
have lasting effects on the victim for years. Child sexual abuse does not need to
include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Some forms of child
sexual abuse include:

 Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor

 Fondling
 Intercourse
 Masturbation in the presence of a minor or forcing the minor to
masturbate
 Obscene phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction
 Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of
children
 Sex of any kind with a minor, including vaginal, oral, or anal
 Sex trafficking
 Any other sexual conduct that is harmful to a child's mental, emotional,
or physical welfare

What do perpetrators of child sexual abuse look like?

The majority of perpetrators are someone the child or family knows. As many as
93 percent of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. A perpetrator does
not have to be an adult to harm a child. They can have any relationship to the child
including an older sibling or playmate, family member, a teacher, a coach or
instructor, a caretaker, or the parent of another child. According to 1 in 6, “[Child]
sexual abuse is the result of abusive behavior that takes advantage of a child’s
vulnerability and is in no way related to the sexual orientation of the abusive
person.”
Abusers can manipulate victims to stay quiet about the sexual abuse using a
number of different tactics. Often an abuser will use their position of power over
the victim to coerce or intimidate the child. They might tell the child that the
activity is normal or that they enjoyed it. An abuser may make threats if the child
refuses to participate or plans to tell another adult. Child sexual abuse is not only a
physical violation; it is a violation of trust and/or authority.

How can I protect my child from sexual abuse?

A big part of protecting your child is about creating a dialogue. Read more to learn
about creating this dialogue and keeping your child safe.

 Talk to Your Child if You Suspect Sexual Abuse

 Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse

What are the warning signs?

Child sexual abuse isn’t always easy to spot. The perpetrator could be someone
you’ve known a long time or trust, which may make it even harder to notice.
Consider the following warning signs:

Physical signs:

 Bleeding, bruises, or swelling in genital area

 Bloody, torn, or stained underclothes
 Difficulty walking or sitting
 Frequent urinary or yeast infections
 Pain, itching, or burning in genital area

Behavioral signs:

 Changes in hygiene, such as refusing to bathe or bathing excessively

 Develops phobias
 Exhibits signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
 Expresses suicidal thoughts, especially in adolescents
 Has trouble in school, such as absences or drops in grades
 Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors
 Nightmares or bed-wetting
 Overly protective and concerned for siblings, or assumes a caretaker role
 Returns to regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking
 Runs away from home or school
 Self-harms
 Shrinks away or seems threatened by physical contact

Where can I get help?

 If you want to talk to someone anonymously, call the National Child

Abuse Hotline at 800.4.A.CHILD (422-4453), any time 24/7.
 Learn more about being an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
 To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual
Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online
at online.rainn.org.
Child Sexual Abuse Statistics
The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often
not reported; experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to
authorities. CSA is also not uniformly defined, so statistics may vary. Statistics
below represent some of the research done on child sexual abuse.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau
report Child Maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimized children were
sexually assaulted (page 24).
Studies by David Finkelhor, Director of the Crimes Against Children Research
Center, show that:

 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse;

 Self-report studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males
recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident;
 During a one-year period in the U.S., 16% of youth ages 14 to 17 had been
sexually victimized;
 Over the course of their lifetime, 28% of U.S. youth ages 14 to 17 had been
sexually victimized;
 Children are most vulnerable to CSA between the ages of 7 and 13.

According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, 3 out of 4 adolescents who

have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well (page 5).
A Bureau of Justice Statistics report shows 1.6 % (sixteen out of one thousand) of
children between the ages of 12-17 were victims of rape/sexual assault (page 18).
A few more statistics:
• One in five children in the Philippines have experienced sexual violence
(National Baseline Study on Child Violence).
• Eight in 10 children are at risk of online abuse and bullying (Perils and
Possibilities: Growing Up Online UNICEF 2016).
• And one in three sexual trafficking victims are children (Global Report on
Trafficking in Persons UNODC 2016).