Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse

What is sexual abuse? 

Sexual abuse of children may include sexual touching, masturbation, intercourse, indecent exposure, use of children in or showing children pornographic films or pictures, encouraging or forcing children into prostitution or encouraging or forcing children to witness sexual acts. Children and young people of all ages can be victims of abuse.

Most sexual abuse of children is carried out by someone they know

Children are more likely to be sexually abused by someone they know, including relatives and family friends, than by a stranger. Children may have confused feelings if they are being abused by someone they trust. They may not realise that what is being done to them is abuse.

What kind of people sexually abuse children?

Child sex abusers can come from any social, racial or religious background and may be well-respected members of society. Those who sexually abuse children within families include fathers, stepfathers, live-in partners, brothers, uncles, male cousins, grandfathers, father figures and close family friends. Sometimes the sex abuser could also be the mother or a female relative. Those who abuse children in one family may also abuse children in other families.

Targeting children

An abuser may target girls or boys or prefer children of a particular age. Child sex abusers often appear kind, concerned and caring towards children in order to build close relationships with them. They may observe a child and spend a long time building up the 'friendship'. They may form a relationship with a single parent in order to get access to the children.

Grooming children

Child sex abusers may spend a lot of time building the relationship before the abuse begins. This often results in the child trusting and becoming dependent on them. This is called grooming. The abuser may seem to be a safe and reassuring figure. He may also convince himself that he is doing no harm to the children.

Keeping secrets

As the child becomes more dependent on the abuser, and in order to keep the abuse secret, the abuser will use the child's natural fear, embarrassment or guilt about what is happening to make the child keep quiet. A child who talks and shares his/her feelings with parents and others is less likely to become dependent on a single abusing adult.

How can I keep my child safe?

How will I know if my child is being abused?

When abuse has been discovered, parents often say there were no obvious signs to make them suspect their child was being abused, even when the abuser was their partner. However, although the following behaviour does not necessarily indicate abuse, sometimes a child who is being abused will:

What should I do if I suspect that my child is being abused?

Could my family be broken up and my children taken away from me?

In most cases it should be the abuser, rather than the child, who is removed from the family home. However, this will depend on whether a criminal charge is brought against the abuser and there is a conviction, or if the court decides that your child needs to be under the care of your local Social Welfare Dept in a Place of Safety. Priority must be given to your child's long-term safety and well-being.

How should I react if my child tells me that he or she has been abused?

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