Child sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child by an adult or adolescent. It can include rape, sexual touching, exposure to genitals, sexualized talk, pornography or forced prostitution.
Over 50% of victims served at The Sex Abuse Treatment Center are under age 17 at the time of the abuse.
Children are nearly always abused by someone they know. In over 90% of sexual abuse cases, abusers develop a close, trusting relationship with the targeted child prior to abusing them.
Physical force is rarely used. Most children are tricked and manipulated into sexual abuse through the use of affection, special attention, gifts, etc.
Many children don't tell. Abusers typically threaten or trick children into keeping the abuse a secret
The impacts of child sexual abuse are serious. Victims often experience fear, shame, loss of self-esteem and depression. They are at increased risk for suicide and many struggle with problems such as eating disorders, substance abuse and relationship difficulties. With treatment and support, however, many child victims can recover.
This helpful brochure for parents and other concerned adults will increase their knowledge about child sexual abuse and provide useful tips on how to reduce a child's risk of being abused.
The brochure highlights the importance of adults dialoguing with children at an early age about safe and unsafe touching and speaking up if unsafe touching should happen to them. As children get older the dialogue should expand to include topics such as personal boundaries – learning to assert one's own boundaries and also respecting the personal boundaries of others.
We can never completely protect our loved ones from sexual abuse, but we
can help keep them safe through education and awareness.
By learning about unsafe or secret touching, children are less likely to become victims. This coloring book was designed for a child to
share with a special grown up.
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center provides these free coloring books to Hawai‘i residents. Please contact us.
Help reinforce important messages about personal safety using two colorful posters. Display in public areas frequented by families (e.g., pediatrician’s offices, community centers, child care facilities).
Child sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child by an adult or adolescent. It can involve sexual touching, sexualized talk, exposure to genitals, rape, incest, pornography or forced prostitution. It is nearly always perpetrated by individuals acquainted with the child, may occur over short or long periods of time and may be accompanied by varying levels of coercion or physical violence.
Child sexual abuse cases generally fall into two categories. "Intra-familial" or "family related sexual abuse" refers to cases in which the perpetrator is a family member or relative of the victim (e.g., a parent, step-father, older sibling, uncle) or someone who lives within the family home and may be responsible for caring for the child (e.g., mother’s boyfriend). "Extra-familial" or "non-family related sexual abuse" refers to abuse by someone outside of the family (e.g., babysitter, teacher, coach, boy scout leader, youth ministry leader).
How Sex Offenders Groom Children
In over 90 percent of child sexual abuse cases, the offender is known and trusted by the victim. Grooming is the process used by the offender to recruit and prepare a child for sexual victimization. It starts when the offender targets a specific child. While all children are at risk for victimization, certain factors make some children more vulnerable to sexual abuse than others. For example, a child is especially susceptible if he or she feels unloved, has low self-esteem, has little contact with committed adults or regularly spends time unsupervised.
Sex offenders commonly engage children by spending time with them, playing games with them, showing them special attention or giving them gifts. Older children or teens may be offered drugs or alcohol. Offenders forge an emotional bond through frequent contact, positive interactions and by conveying to the child or teen that they "understand" or can appreciate their interests and concerns. They become adult friends or confidantes.
In time, the emotional bond leads to non-sexual physical contact which can take the form of physical play such as wrestling, affectionate touching, giving back-rubs etc. In this way the offender tests the child’s boundaries and gradually desensitizes the child to overt sexual touch. Usually secrecy is introduced during the grooming process and as the child starts to become uncomfortable or fearful of the sexual activity, offenders typically use threats to keep the child from speaking up (e.g., if you tell, I will hurt you, you will get into trouble, no one will believe you). Most child victims are caught in a web of fear, guilt and confusion as a result of sex offender grooming and manipulation. Sadly, many child victims remain silent about their abuse.
Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse
Indicators of child sexual abuse are varied and should always be considered in the context of what else is happening in a child's life. Any one indicator, on its own, is but one sign that something may be impacting a child's well being.
Behavior Indicators
Unexplained change in a child’s comfort level (either attachment to or fear of) around a family member, an adult close to the family or any person in a position of trust or authority for the child.
Abrupt changes in performance in school or work.
Abrupt changes in how the child socializes, either being out with friends or being in the house more often.
For younger children, a sudden loss of skills, like a child who is toilet trained starts wetting the bed.
Extreme avoidance of someone the child once liked or avoidance of a certain house or room in a house.
Sexualized behavior, often in front of others; such as self-exposure, excessive masturbation, touching other people's private parts, sexually charged language. In older children or teens this might be seen as promiscuous behavior.
Language and knowledge, especially specific details, which are not appropriate to the child’s age or has not been taught or shown in school or the child’s household.
Physical Indicators
Bruises, scratches, irritation/itching around genitals that are not consistent with explanations of how they happened.
Signs of any sexually transmitted diseases or infections such as crabs, herpes, gonorrhea, etc. for those who are not sexually active.
Unexplained pregnancy.
Tenderness or soreness around areas of penetration.
Blood in stool or urine that is pervasive and not explained by other conditions. Underwear is often where proof of abuse may exist.
In over 90% of all child sexual abuse cases, the abuser is someone the child knows and trusts. To keep a child safe from sexual abuse, it is important to monitor the relationships they have with adults and older minors in their life. Be aware of common abuser behaviors that may indicate a child is being sexually abused or is at risk of being abused.
Some Common Warning Signs
An adult or older youth who:
insists on physical contact with a child (e.g., hugging, rubbing, kissing, tickling) even when the child appears uncomfortable or says no
frequently arranges playtimes, outings or overnight trips with children or youth and other adults are not included
frequently offers to baby sit for free and/or gives certain children or youth gifts or money for no special reason
prefers interactions with children or youth over adult interactions and often relies on these interactions to meet their emotional needs
shows inappropriate interest in children's bodies
exposes children or youth to sexual talk and/or shows them sexually explicit photos or videos
views child pornography
If you are concerned that a child is being sexually abused or is at risk for abuse, take immediate action to ensure the child's safety. If you have questions or need guidance on next steps, call the Sex Abuse Treatment Center's 24/7 hotline at 524-7273.
The Internet is an exciting and evolutionary medium that has expanded and enriched the lives of millions. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in offensive, distressing and sometimes dangerous online experiences for many young people. A national survey1 involving a representative sample of youth ages 10 to 17 years old found:
About one in seven received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet in the last year.
One in three was exposed to unwanted pictures of naked people or people having sex in the last year.
Approximately one in twenty-five received an aggressive sexual solicitation in which the sender asked to meet them somewhere; called them on the telephone, sent them e-mails, money or gifts.
The survey also found that 70% of those solicited were females and almost 20% of those solicited were 10 to 13 years old. Surprisingly, only 16% of those solicited told a parent or guardian.
Social Networking Sites
In recent years there has been escalating use of social networking sites (such as Facebook and MySpace) by teens and pre-teens. According to a September 2009 Pew Internet Survey, 93% of US teens ages 12-17 go online, and of those, 73% use an online social networking website. Young people use these websites to communicate with friends, to post photos, to meet new people, etc. Unfortunately, these websites also provide sexual predators with a wealth of personal information on thousands of children and can put vulnerable children at considerable risk.
Although social networking sites typically require users to be at least 14 years old to register and post profiles, pre teens and young teens are creating websites in droves and some, mimicking older users, display provocative photos of themselves to grab attention and frequently add a few years to their online profiles. While terms of use, require that users not include telephone numbers, last names or addresses, users often provide other detailed information about themselves ( e.g., their photo, school, daily activities, locations frequented) which erases any attempt at anonymity.
Sexual predators use social networking sites and chat rooms to hide their true age, identity and motives for interaction. They spend time building trust with their victims by appearing "cool," concerned and understanding. In time, through manipulation and increased knowledge of the victim, predators start to introduce sexual topics and the possibility of meeting the youth face-to-face.
Characteristics of Vulnerable Youth
Research2 has shown that certain characteristics are common among young people who develop close relationships with those they have met online. Some of these characteristics include:
girls aged 14 to 17
boys who have low communication with their parents and whose parents have little knowledge of their friends and where they spend their time
youth in households with a high level of parent-youth conflict
youth suffering from troubling life events, depression, or prior victimization
youth who report high levels of Internet use
Cyberbullying
While sexual solicitations and unwanted exposure to sexual material online are often cited as key online dangers for youth, online bullying or cyberbullying, which often includes sexual harassment, has become a serious concern.
Using digital media, cyberbullies employ tactics such as sending demeaning or cruel comments, spreading trusted information or lies, incessant "checking in" with another, and impersonating a peer then distributing embarrassing, hurtful messages. According to a 2009 MTV/Associated Press survey, 47% of teens have experienced some form of digital abuse.
While cyberbullying can cover a range of behaviors, sexual harassment is often involved. Body rating, sexual putdowns, and spreading sexual rumors have moved beyond the school yard and cafeteria into cyberspace. The anonymity of cyberspace and the incredible speed and reach achieved at the click of a key has made this form of sexual harassment particularly devastating for young people.
Sexting, the use of a cell phone or other electronic device to distribute pictures or video of sexually explicit images, has become increasingly more commonplace among youth. According to a 2008 survey3, 20% of teens have sent nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves to people they know. This trend has resulted in serious legal concerns when it entails the breaking of child pornography laws. Further, while the sexually explicit content being shared among teens is usually intended for a boyfriend or girlfriend, over one third of teens report that it is common for this content to be disseminated beyond the intended recipient, which can result in serious impacts to the victim.
Tragic news stories about vulnerable youth who committed suicide in response to a damaging sexting episode or other forms of cyberbullying emphasize the need to address this critical issue. Sadly, cyberbullies seldom see or understand the harm they cause and too often other young people unwittingly participate in the dissemination of damaging online content.
Protecting Youth from Online Dangers
Educating young people about online dangers is a critical step in reducing the risk of victimization by online sexual predators and cyberbullies. Also, through education it is hoped that more child victims will reach out to their parent or another concerned adult for help.
Resources:
www.netsmartz.org provides a wealth of current information on internet issues and an array of educational tools.
www.cybertipline.com provides national reporting of online sexual exploitation of children.
The Hawaii State Department of the Attorney General www.hawaii.gov/ag/hicac provides education and prevention resources to protect Hawai‘i's children in cyberspace.
References
(1) David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. 2006. Online Victimization: A Report on the Nation's Youth: Five Years Later. Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
(2) David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. "Escaping or connecting? Characteristics of youth who form close online relationships." Journal of Adolescence 26, 2003.)
(3) www.TheNationalCampaign.org/sextech
Listen. A child may share their experience in detail or say little about the abuse. Try to avoid asking "why" questions because this can make the child feel as though they did something wrong.
Believe them. When a child discloses sexual abuse, believe what they say. It is often difficult for a child to talk about the abuse because the abuser is usually someone the child knows and trusted. The child may be fearful that they won't be believed or scared about what the abuser will do. Believing a child is the first step to their recovery.
Stay calm. You may experience strong feelings when you hear a child talk about being abused. Showing the child that you are calm will help ease their fears and make the experience of sharing easier for them.
Let them know that it wasn't their fault. Children often feel that the abuse was their fault because they didn't say no or tell the abuser to stop right away. Reassuring a child that it wasn't their fault relieves them of the burden of self-blame.
Let things return to normal. After a child tells you about the abuse that happened to them, comfort them, ensure their safety and let them return to their normal activities as soon as possible. Focusing on the abuse or continual questioning can further traumatize them.
Access help. For information, support and treatment services call the Sex Abuse Treatment Center's 24/7 crisis hotline: 524 -7273.
SEXUAL ABUSE IS NEVER A CHILD'S FAULT
Adults know that sexual abuse is wrong and against the law.
A child is too young to give permission for sexual touching.
All children need to know
"it's never the child's fault even if…
…you really like the person who touched you."
…the person told you it was your fault."
…you liked the attention the person was giving you."
…you might have been curious about the touching."
…you kind of knew the touching wasn't okay."
…you kept being the person's friend after the touching started."
…sometimes the touching felt good."
…you had to touch the person's private parts."
…you didn't tell someone about the touching right away."
…you received presents or money from the person who touched you."
The speed and success of the child survivor's recovery depends, in large part, upon the degree to which these five factors played a role in the assault.
Degree of intimacy/acquaintance between the victim and offender
Nearly all child sexual abuse cases involve offenders known to the child, such as by a caregiver or family acquaintance. The most highly reported cases of incest involve a father and daughter. The entire family unit is often dysfunctional in cases of incest.
Assault committed by a relative or caretaker is often more traumatic to the child victim because the child's trust has been betrayed and sense of personal safety within the family is disrupted. The child may also feel betrayed by other family members (mother, siblings) who the child feels could have or should have intervened but did not.
The time over which the abuse occurs
Long-term, repeated abuse (characteristic of incest) is more traumatic to the victim than a single incident of assault (characteristic of stranger assault) because the long-term abuse may involve extreme psychological pressure, causing confusion and guilt in the child. A child is more likely to report a one-time event to parents or other caregivers, who may then help the child understand what happened.
The relative intrusiveness of the abuse
Incest situations generally involve abusive contact that progresses from lesser, though still traumatic contact (such as sexual talk, showing pornography, unwanted affection or contact) to more intrusive abuse (such as penetration) over time. The more intrusive the contact (such as penetration, oral sex, genital fondling) is the more traumatic it can be for the child.
The way in which the child was engaged in "sexual" activity
Actual physical violence may increase the trauma of assault for the child, but a victim who was tricked into sexual activity may have a more difficult time recovering from assault later. As with adult victims who were not physically harmed, the child victim who was emotionally overpowered may not be believed as readily by others, and may feel that he or she could have done something to stop or prevent the abuse.
The response of the person to whom the child discloses the abuse
If the person the child victim discloses the abuse to reacts with disbelief, anger, blame or indifference, it can re-traumatize the child and seriously undermine their recovery.
Over 90% of juvenile sexual assault victims reported knowing their attacker; 34% were family members and 59% acquaintances. Only 7% of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim. (Snyder 2000)
Juveniles are responsible for about 40% of child sexual assault victimizations. (Snyder 2000)
Women who reported they were raped before the age of 18 were 3 to 5 times more likely to experience subsequent adult victimization than those who had not been raped. (Desai et al 2002; Noll et al. 2003)
Childhood or adolescent sexual abuse is associated with a range of high-risk sexual behaviors, including the likelihood of being battered; trading sex for drugs, shelter, or money; entry into prostitution; and less likelihood to use birth control. (Boyer and Fine 1992, Finkelhor 1987, Paone et al. 1992, Zierler et al. 1991)
Teens 16 to 19 years of age are three and a half times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. (Rennison 2000)
Female students who have been physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner in the 9th through 12th grades are at increased risk for substance us, unhealthy weight control, risky sexual behavior, pregnancy and suicide. (Silverman, Raj, Mucci, Hathaway 2001)
References
Boyer, D. and D. Fine. (1992). Sexual abuse as a factor in adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment. Family Planning Perspectives 24:4-10.
Desai, S., I. Arias, M. Thompson, and K. Basile. (2002). Childhood victimization and subsequent adult revictimization assessed in a nationally representative sample of women and men. Violence and Victims, Vol. 17 (6): 639-653.
Finkelhor, D. (1987). The sexual abuse of children: Current research reviewed. Psychiatric Annals 17: 233-241.
Noll, J., L. Horowitz, G. Bonano, P.Trickett and F. Putnam. (2003). Revitalization and self-harm in females who experienced childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 18 (12): 1452-1471.
Paone, D., W. Chavkin, I. Willets, P. Friedman, D. Des Jarlais. (1992). The impact of sexual abuse: Implications for drug treatment. Journal of Women's Health 1:149-153.
Rennison, Callie M. "Criminal Victimization 1999: Changes 1998-00 with Trends 1993-99." Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, August 2000)
Silverman, J., A. Raj, L. Mucci and J. Hathaway. "Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality." Journal of the American Medical Association. 286(5):572-579, 2001)
Snyder, H. "Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement: Victim, Incident, and Offender Characteristics." Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000.
Zierler, S., L. Feingold, D. Laufer, P. Velentgas, S.B. Kantorwitz and Gordon, K. Mayer. (1991). Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and subsequent risk of HIV infection. American Journal of Public Health 81:572-575.
Darkness to Light www.darkness2light.org
A website devoted to providing adults with information to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
Stop It Now www.stopitnow.com
This website provides information and tools to motivate and support adults in identifying abusers, speaking up and taking action to protect children from sexual victimization.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network www.rainn.org
A comprehensive online resource for information and statistics and also the home of The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE.
Choose Respect www.chooserespect.org
This interactive website is part of an initiative to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. This national effort is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cybertipline www.cybertipline.com
A website to report incidents of online sexual exploitation of children.
Hawai‘i Internet Crimes Against Children www.hawaii.gov/ag/hicac
This Department of the Attorney General resource
includes interactive games to teach kids web safety and adult prevention tips to protect Hawai‘i's children in cyberspace.
Netsmartz www.netsmartz.org
This website provides a wealth of current information on internet safety issues and an array of educational tools.
Books for Children on Personal Safety
• A Very Touching Book. 1983. Jan Hindman. Alexandria Associates.
• Children are Special: Ku–pono Na– Keiki. 2006. Corinne Matsumoto & Kenda Kauwe. Kamehameha Schools Press
• My Body is Private. 1992. Linda Walvoord Girard. Albert Whitman & Company.
• No- No The Little Seal. 1986. Sherri Patterson and Judith Feldman. Random House Books for Young Readers.
• Uncle Willie's Tickles. 1996. Marcie Aboff. Magination Press.
• Your Body Belongs to You. 2000. Cornelia Maude Spelman. Albert Whitman & Company.
The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center provides a listing of convicted sex offenders residing in Hawai‘i. Visit their website at the link below. The website provides detailed information on each sex offender, such as the crime they committed, where they live and their photo.
You can use the site's search engine to search for information on a particular sex offender by typing in their name. If you want to check to see a list of sex offenders residing in your area all you need do is enter your zip code.
