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Child Sexual Abuse

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What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Harmful Sexual Behaviours

Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people which is harmful or abusive.

Peer-on-peer sexual abuse is a form of HSB where sexual abuse takes place between children of a similar age or stage of development. Child-on-child sexual abuse is a form of HSB that takes place between children of any age or stage of development.

Problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) is developmentally inappropriate or socially unexpected sexualised behaviour which doesn’t have an overt element of victimisation or abuse.

Intra-familial child sexual abuse refers to child sexual abuse that occurs within the family environment. Abuse may involve relatives, or others (such as foster carers or a parent’s partner) who feel like family from the child’s point of view.

 

Sexual abuse is usually hidden from view. Children and young people may not always understand that they are being sexually abused, they may be too young, too scared or too ashamed to tell anyone what is happening to them. However, there are a number of different sources of information which help us to build up a picture of the scale of abuse.

In 2023/24, the NSPCC Helpline responded to 75,609 contacts from people who were concerned about a child’s welfare.

Childline counsellors provided 187,999 counselling sessions to children and young people.

On average, a child contacts Childline every 45 seconds.

The top five main concerns that children and young people talked to NSPCC counsellors about were:

  • mental and emotional health and wellbeing
  • suicidal thoughts and feelings
  • family relationships
  • self-harm
  • friendship issues

Infographics | CSA Centre

Because child sexual abuse is so difficult to think about, some people find it easier to deny that there is a problem.

Parents in this situation might think, ‘My child would have told me if they were being abused and they haven’t – so it can’t be happening’.

People who sexually abuse children rely on privacy and secrecy to make sure their abuse isn’t discovered and reported. But, even when a child hasn’t said anything, there can be physical or behavioural signs that a child is being abused – children will often show us rather than tell us that something is upsetting them.

 

Changes in a child’s behaviour that need our attention can include:

  • The child acting in a sexual way with toys or object
  • Suddenly having nightmares or other sleeping problems
  • Becoming withdrawn or very clingy
  • Personality changes or suddenly seeming insecure
  • Regressing to younger behaviours, such as bedwetting
  • Unaccountable fear of particular places or people
  • Outbursts of anger
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Physical signs, such as unexplained soreness or bruises around private parts
  • Becoming secretive
  • Having unexplained gifts such as toys, money, mobile phone, expensive clothes.
  • Pain, discoloration, bleeding or discharges in genitals, anus or mouth
  • Persistent or recurring pain during urination and bowel movements
  • Wetting and soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training

 

Watch the short film on Parents Protect website to learn about the warning signs of sexual abuse in children and how to respond to them.

 

NSPCC – Talk PANTS has been designed to help children understand that they have a right to say no and if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen.  Watch the video below:

Don’t wait for ‘proof’ of child sexual abuse – if you think a child is in immediate danger then call 999 to speak to the police.

Visit Parents Protect family safety plan pages for information and advice on the things to think about and to keep your children safe.

If you are concerned about how a parent, cousin, sibling, friend, or neighbour behaves around children, you can talk through your concerns with experienced advisors on the confidential Stop It Now! helpline, or if you’re not ready to speak to someone you can use our live chat or send a secure message. 

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