Lasting Scars of Child Sexual Abuse
Too Many Children Lose Their Childhood to Sexual Coercion
Mar 19, 2009
In a 1993 Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women report entitled "Changing the Landscape: Ending Violence - Achieving Equality,” more than half the women surveyed had experienced some form of unwanted or intrusive sexual experience before the age of 16.One in four said the acts involved forced or attempted forced intercourse. Seventeen per cent reported at least one experience of incest and 34% had been sexually abused by a non-relative before age 16.
Children with Disabilities are Two to Ten Times More Likely to be Abused
Most of the offenders were in highly visible positions of trust, both professional and non-professional. They were baby-sitters, recreation leaders, ministers, dentists and child care workers. In 63% of the cases, the offenders had been suspected of abusing children for more than a year prior to being investigated. They used verbal intimidation, coercion or reinforcement as methods to control and manipulate children. In 87% of cases, the form of abuse included physical touching, fondling or pressuring of victims' bodies. Slightly less than half of cases included oral-genital contact and about a third involved anal or vaginal penetration (Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women).
Signs of child sexual abuse are often difficult to recognize as all victims do not display the same kinds of behaviours. However, some of the common symptoms include:
- Preoccupation with sexual matters
- Excessive rage
- Regressive behaviours such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking and baby talk
- Fear of separation/difficulty separating from adults
- Sleep and appetite disturbances
- Bruises, bleeding, pain and itching of the genitals
- Problems walking or sitting
- Learning difficulties and declining grades, difficulties with concentration and attention and poor peer relations
- Delinquency, stealing, running away and substance abuse
- Suicide attempts
- Promiscuity and prostitution
- Truancy
Sexual Offences Against Children
There are 16 sexual offenses in the Criminal Code of Canada that could apply to child sexual abuse:
- Sexual interference
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Sexual exploitation of a young person
- Anal intercourse
- Bestiality
- Parent or guardian procuring sexual activity of a child
- Householder permitting sexual activity
- Exposing genitals to a child
- Vagrancy
- Offenses in relation to juvenile prostitution
- Incest
- Corrupting children
- Indecent acts
- Sexual assault
- Sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm
- Aggravated sexual assault
Most sexual offenders do have one characteristic in common. The vast majority are male. Most studies indicate that among reported perpetrators, 90% or more are men. One in four offenders is a member of the child's family or has been entrusted with the child's care. Approximately half are friends or acquaintances of the child or family. Only one in six is a stranger (Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women).
Roughly one-quarter of all sexual offenses are committed by youths between 12 and 17 years of age, the vast majority of them being male. Like adult abusers, they are usually well known to their victims (Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women).
Of the offenses that are reported, less than one-third of alleged offenders are charged
Secrecy is essential to sexual abuse. The abuser often intimidates the child into silence. Bribes and threats may be used. Sometimes abusers disguise abuse as a game, a punishment, or sex education.
Another reason for silence is shame. Sometimes children feel that they have brought on the abuse themselves, because they are "bad," or because something is wrong with them. They may believe that telling will get them in trouble.
Breaking through the secrecy can allow the healing process to begin. Children must feel safe enough to talk about their experience and feel that they will be believed. Time and a great deal of reassurance may be needed before the child is ready to provide more details.
