Child Sexual Abuse - A Basic Introduction

What is it?
Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or any significantly older person. It is called incest if it occurs between family members, including mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, adoptive and step relations, legitimate or illegitimate children, or relative of whole or half blood.

What is it not?
child sexual abuse shouldn't be confused with physical contacts between an adult and a child that are fond or playful expressions of love. Responsible adults limit their physical exchanges with a child, respecting the child and at the same time maintaining a warm, healthy, affectionate relationship.

What behaviors does child abuse include?
Child sexual abuse can include a wide-range of activities, including non-forced offenses such as a verbal stimulations, obscene phone calls, exposure, voyeurism,and showing a child pornographic pictures of films, and forcible touching offenses such as fondling, oral intercourse or attempted intercourse, vaginal or anal intercourse or attempted intercourse, and exploitation of children through prostitution and/or child pornography.