Child Sexual Abuse – It is your business

Child sexual abuse is a serious problem within our society and occurs more frequently than people realize. It is important to understand what child sexual abuse is and to recognize behaviour that may signal a child in distress. Adults have a responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse.

What is sexual abuse?

This list is not meant to be exhaustive

Contact sexual abuse

• Touching and fondling genital area
• Touching and fondling breasts
• Forcing touching of other’s genital area
• Oral sex
• Vaginal or anal intercourse
• Vaginal or anal penetration with object or finger

Non-contact sexual abuse

• Online luring to meet for sexual encounter
• Invitation to sexual touching online and/or offline
• Voyeurism (“Peeping Tom”)
• Exposure to sexually explicit material
• Child pornography (child abuse images taken)
• Sexually intrusive questions or comments
• Asked to masturbate or watch others masturbate
• Exposure to sexually explicit acts
• “Flashing” genitals

How can risks be reduced?

• Be vigilant of situations and behaviour that seem strange and present risk.
• Screen and check child protection policies at organizations and activities that the child attends.
• Supervise the child. Know where s/he is.
• Accompany the child to public areas (washrooms, stores, etc.) and to activities.
• Communicate to the child that s/he can talk to you about anything. Pay close attention to changes in behaviour – it can be a sign of distress.
• Rehearse “What if” scenarios to help the child anticipate responses to dangerous situations that s/he may encounter.
• Teach assertiveness skills - how to send an “I mean business” message.
• Label body parts using correct terms. Explain that s/he should not let anybody touch his/her private parts.
• Model appropriate boundaries between adults and children. Healthy adults are not interested in companionship from children. Children are friends with other children and adults are friends with other adults.

For more information, visit www.protectchildren.ca

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