Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse occurs when a person responsible for a child’s care ( and adult or adolescent) uses a child or allows a child to be used for sexual purposes. Child sexual abuse can range from; a parent/caretaker permitting or exposing a child to sexual acts from prostitution to molestation; it includes exposure, fondling or masturbation, pornography, intercourse or rape and incest. The sexual involvement may or may not be accompanied by physical abuse.

Legal Definitions

Sexual Interference (Against Children Under 14)
It is a crime if someone, for a sexual purpose, touches any part of the body of a child.
Invitation to Sexual Touching (Against Children Under 14)
It is a crime if someone, for a sexual purpose, encourages a child to touch him with any part of the child’s body or with an object. It is also a crime if someone, for a sexual purpose, encourages a child to touch his or her own body, or the body of someone else.
Sexual Exploitation (Against Children 14-17)
It is a crime if someone, who is in a position of trust or authority towards a young person or is a person with whom the young person is in a relationship of dependence, commits the offences described above.
Incest
It is a crime if a blood relation has sexual intercourse with another blood relation (e.g. parent, brother, half-brother, grandfather).
Exposure
It is a crime if someone, for a sexual purpose, exposes his or her genital organs to a person who is under the age of 14. Exposure is against the law toward persons of any age if it happens in public.
Consent
Children Under 12
This age group is never considered able to consent to sexual activity.
Children between 12 and 14 years of age
This age group is unable to consent to sexual acts except under specific circumstances involving sexual activity with peers (they must be within two years apart in age).
Children between 14 and 18 years of age
This age group cannot consent to sexual touching with an older person in a position of trust or authority.

Statistics
*24% of Canadian girls under age 16 have experienced rape or coercive sex and 54% of girls under age 16 have experienced some form of unwanted sexual attention (Russell & the Canadian Federation of University Women, 1996).
*Girls are 2 to 3 times more likely (than boys) to experience childhood sexual abuse (Johnston & Saenz, 1997).
*Girls with disabilities are four times more likely (than the national average) to be sexually abused (Razack, 1994).
*Most reported abusers are male (McCarty, 1992).
*It is the offender who initiates the sexual activity (Health Canada, 1997).


Phases of Child Sexual Abuse

The dynamics of sexual encounters between adults and children usually fall within a predictable pattern. Abuse usually occurs in four phases:

Engagement Phase
During this phase the perpetrator will look for the opportunity to access the child in order to develop a relationship with the child. They will then use inducements; games, rewards or bribes to engage the child in sexual activities.

Sexual Interaction Phase
The progression of exposure to fondling to some form of penetration is very predictable.

Secrecy Phase
The perpetrator will use secrecy in order to continue the abuse and the child will often keep the secret for fear of getting in trouble or may enjoy the sexual stimulation, the enhancement of self-esteem, and the feeling of being important and grown up

Disclosure Phase
There are two types of child sexual abuse disclosure: accidental and purposeful.
Accidental disclosure; the abuse is revealed accidentally because of external circumstances or purposeful disclosure; the victim consciously decides to tell an outsider about the sexual abuse.

For a more detailed description of the phases of Child Sexual Abuse download these files -

Abuser Strategies
An abuser will use a variety of strategies to coerce a child into sexual activities.

If You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse
Report the abuse
The safety and well being of the child is dependent on action being taken to stop the abuse. Adults are obligated to report suspected child abuse. After you report an abusive situation, an investigation will be started and a social worker will decide what action needs to be taken to ensure the safety of the child. Reports can be made anonymously to your local Child Protection or Welfare Agency. When you call, a social worker will ask you:

1.Your name
2.The child’s name and address
3.The name of the alleged abuser
4.The incident that prompted you to report

Medical Concerns

It is important that the child receive medical attention as soon as possible. Child Protection will arrange for the child to be examined and treated by a court declared physician. There is the possibility of injury if a child has performed fellatio, simulated intercourse, or completed anal/vaginal intercourse. Sex with an adult can result in rectal or vaginal tears or an inability to control bowel movements. Sexually transmitted infections are also of great concern. They can surface in the throat or genitalia and can be left for years untreated if the child is not taken to a physician.

Support the child

Children do not tend to make false allegations nor misinterpret appropriate adult-child activities as sexual abuse (Conte, 1986).


1. Believe the child and tell the child you believe her/him.
2. Say that what happened was not her/his fault. The child may blame her or himself.
3. Tell the child that you are glad the child told you about the abuse.
4. Do not panic or overreact. The child may become upset.
5. Respect the child’s privacy. Don’t discuss it in front of others.
6. Do not criticize the child("I told you not to go into his home").
7. Tell the child that, together, you are going to get help. Tell the child what will happen after you report the abuse.
8. Remember that children rarely lie about sexual abuse.

Consider counselling
Ignoring and not talking about the incident will make it more difficult for the child to recover. Look for a counsellor who is experienced in working with sexual victimization. Ask them how many children they have worked with in the past.

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