Childhood Sexual Abuse

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

NOTE:  A child is defined as a person under 16 years of age

Child sexual abuse happens when an older child, adolescent or adult uses a child for sexual purposes.  It can also mean exposing them to sexual activity or behaviour directly or through the Internet.  It can include:

• exposing themselves in the presence of a child
• touching and kissing a child’s breasts or genitals
• inviting/forcing the child to touch someone else sexually
• having oral, anal and vaginal sex with a child family
• incest
• forcing a child into prostitution or pornography
• sexual requests and exploitation over the Internet

Child sexual abuse is usually repeated, and can go on for a long time.  Children are most often sexually assaulted by someone they know and trust such as a relative, friend of the family, a neighbour, a babysitter or a team coach – someone who has access to the child without raising suspicion.

It is important to support a child if they disclose the sexual abuse to you.  While sexual abuse can be very traumatic, the long-term effects can be reduced through early intervention, support and counseling.

Your Responsibility to Report

All persons, professionals or officials who suspect that a child may have been or is being sexually abused, have a responsibility to promptly report that information to Family and Children’s Services.  It is Family & Children’s Services responsibility to ensure that the child is protected from any danger of further harm as well as to protect other children that you may not know about but are also being abused by the same perpetrator.

Family and Children’s Services of Guelph-Wellington       
519-824-2410 or 1-800-265-8300

The Facts about:     Sexual Assault     Sexual Harrassment     Child Sexual Abuse     Elder Sexual Abuse     Domestic Violence