Sexual abuse is when someone is forced, pressured or tricked into taking part in any kind of sexual activity with another person. It could be online or in person, and it can happen to anyone.
Abuse is never a child’s choice and is never a child’s fault.
Child Sexual Abuse can have significant and life-long consequences for survivors. For many the impact includes, stigmatisation, feelings of guilt, shame, powerlessness and isolation, post-traumatic stress, physical and mental health problems, and difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
There are two types of sexual abuse
Contact abuse - involves touching where an abuser makes physical contact with a child or forces the child to make physical contact with someone else.
Non-contact abuse - involves things such as grooming, exploitation, persuading children to perform sexual acts over the internet, flashing, showing pornography to a child and sexual exploitation of a child.
Most children and young people do not tell anyone at the time of their abuse or are more likely to tell a friend or family member than to speak to a professional.
Children may not understand that what is happening to them is wrong or inappropriate. They may have been threatened and be scared to say anything. Recognising signs of sexual abuse may be the first step in helping children to have their voice heard.
Recognising the signs