Sexual Child Abuse Relief and Services Inc.

Sexual Child Abuse

What Is Sexual Child Abuse?

While the definition of sexual child abuse would seem to be a matter of common sense, fact is, there isn't any one standard definition. Legal definitions vary from state to state and country to country. There are also medical definitions that seem to vary somewhat as well.

Child sexual abuse is any sexual behavior directed toward a child by a person who has power over that child. Such behavior always involves a betrayal of the child’s trust.

Some forms of sexual abuse involve physical contact. These include masturbation, intercourse, fondling, oral sex, and anal or vaginal penetration with objects. Other types of sexual abuse, such as exhibitionism, leering, and sexual suggestiveness, do not involve physical contact.

Definitions of Sexual Child Abuse:

Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violate the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to:

•The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual

activity.

•The exploitative use of child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices.

•The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.
(World Health Organization* Definition of Child Abuse, Taken from the Report on the Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention Geneva, March 29-31, 1999)

Effects of Sexual Child Abuse

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Sexual Child Abuse