Sexual abuse of children

Sexual abuse occurs when an adult, adolescent or other child engages a child in sexual activity of any form.

Sexual violence against children is mostly committed by family members or other people who live in the child's family home or child's environment. These are usually people whom children trust, who are often responsible for caring for children. Sexual violence can manifest itself in the following forms: 

  • Sexual intercourse with a child under 14 years of age with or without the child's consent; 

  • Forcing a child into sexual intercourse; 

  • Bribery and mediation in child prostitution, forcing a child into prostitution, receiving compensation from child prostitution, using child prostitution services; 

  • Inducing a child to attend rape, sexual intercourse or any other sexual activity; 

  • Exploitation of a child for the production of images, audio-visual or other pornographic material; 

  • Acquisition, possession, offering, sale, distribution, transmission, display, making available or making available of child pornography; 

  • Conscious access to child pornography through information and communication technologies; 

  • Sexual harassment, i.e. any verbal, non-verbal or physical behavior aimed at violating the dignity of the child in the sphere of full life. 

  

How to recognize a sexually abused child? 

A child who has been sexually abused may have: 

  • genital infections, physical injuries on the body, injuries in the genital and anal region, 

  • frequent psychosomatic disorders (headaches or abdominal pain), 

  • sudden weight loss or gain 

  • some children hide, try to be "invisible" 

  • taking frequent showers, wearing several layers of clothes, 

  • expressing anger, 

  • anxiety, fear of going home, 

  • fear of the dark and going to bed, 

  • fear of closed doors, bathrooms, showers and single-door rooms, 

  • isolation, shame, guilt, 

  • fear of physical contact, 

  • refusal or request not to stay with a certain person, 

  • bedwetting, 

  • beating, thumb sucking, 

  • constant "good behavior" or excessive obedience, 

  • perfectionism, 

  • withdrawal or hyperactivity, 

  • nightmares. 

Domestic sexual violence against children is surrounded by silence and shame. Children do not talk about it or they are not trusted. Most children do not report the sexual violence they experience at home because they are afraid of what will happen to them and their families. They believe that their families will be ashamed and that they (children) will be punished.