Quick Facts

What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for sexual purposes by an adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse is inherently emotionally abusive and is often accompanied by other forms of mistreatment. It is a betrayal of trust and an abuse of power over the child. It is also a criminal offence in Canada.

How widespread is the problem?

Child sexual abuse is largely a hidden crime, so it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of people who are sexually abused at some time during their childhood. The most extensive study of child sexual abuse in Canada was conducted by the Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children and Youths. Its report indicates that, among adult Canadians, 53 percent of women and 31 percent of men were victims of unwanted sexual acts. In 80 percent of the cases, it occurred before the victims reached 19 years of age.

The facts

The Victim

Victims of child sexual abuse are found in all classes and ethnocultural communities. Children who have physical or mental disabilities or who are isolated are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse.
There is a greater possibility of serious distress to the child if the abuser is a family member, or if the child does not receive support from his or her non-abusive parent. The long-term consequences are also worse if force or the threat of force was used in the commission of the abuse, or if there were many incidents of abuse over a long period.
Children find it difficult to break the silence. In a child’s world, adults control most of the resources and seem to know all the answers. If the abuser threatens the child or someone the child loves, the child may not question the adult’s power to carry out the threat.
Children always want to tell about their abuse so that it can be stopped, but they are often afraid that they will not be believed or protected, or they are afraid of what might happen if they do tell. It is normal for children to delay telling about their abuse for a year or more after it occurs.
Especially in cases of incest, when the abuser is a close family member, children may not reveal their sexual victimization until they become adults. Many never tell even then.
There is little evidence that many children deliberately make false allegations or misinterpret appropriate adult-child contact as sexual abuse. In the few recorded cases in which children appear to have made false allegations, it has usually been the result of manipulation by an adult.
Children vary in their responses to sexual abuse. The manner in which the adults react to the child’s disclosure is an important factor in influencing how the child comes to view the abuse and his or her own role in it. Being believed and having family support can help the child to cope and adjust and can decrease some of the traumatic effects of sexual abuse.

The Abuser

Most offenders are males and are not strangers to their victims. In most cases, they are well known to their victims. Approximately 25 percent of offenders are adolescents.
It is the offender who initiates the sexual activity. The offender is responsible for the abuse no matter what the child does.
A recent Canadian study revealed that more than 40 percent of convicted child molesters were sexually abused as children. They tended to choose victims close to the age at which they were first victimized.
Offenders use a number of tactics to gain access to children and to ensure their victim’s silence. These tactics include the use of threats, physical force, bribery, and other forms of physical and psychological coercion.
Some offenders have abused more than 70 children before any of the victims disclosed the abuse. In cases in which one offender has abused a large number of victims, the abused children are more likely to be male.
Incest offenders reflect the same range of education, religion, occupation, intelligence and mental health status as can be found in a representative cross-section of the general population. Abusers are found among all ages, ethnocultural communities and social classes.

Reporting Child Sexual Abuse

If you believe you have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is being sexually exploited or abused, promptly report your concerns to the child welfare agency, provincial or territorial social services department or police force in your community. In all cases, the person reporting is protected from any kind of legal action, provided the report is not falsely made and motivated by malice.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?

Children can best be protected by giving them the knowledge and skills necessary for their safety and well-being, and by creating in our families and communities an atmosphere in which they feel safe enough to come forward if they are being mistreated or abused.
Children who are well informed about inappropriate touching, who are taught to trust their feelings about situations and people, and who know where to get help if they require it are less likely to be victims of any type of assault.
Prevention education is particularly important for children who have been sexually abused, as they are at higher risk of revictimization than children who have not been sexually assaulted.