By virtue of their age, children and young people have yet to fully develop their language, communication, and comprehension skills. They are still learning to communicate and express their feelings, and they may not comprehend that what has happened to them is abuse.
If we layer this with the grooming tactics Child Sex Offenders use including fear, threats, and manipulation to control their victim. Tactics that are designed to confuse a child and undermine their self-esteem, children especially younger children, are not always able to identify the words needed to tell a trusted adult what is happening to them.
We can empower children by teaching them about consent and how to identify people who exhibit harmful behaviours such as violating boundaries, unwanted touching, and making them feel uncomfortable. Beginning at an early age to teach them correct names for body parts, and introduce them to the concept that any person can cause them harm- even someone we love. educate them about keeping secrets versus surprises, and to speak up to their trusted adults if anything or anyone makes their body feel uncomfortable. By doing so, we gift them with the basic rights of agency and autonomy, something many Victims and Survivors lived experiences tell us they were denied.
However, children should not be burdened with safeguarding themselves entirely. It is the responsibility of ALL adults to have an understanding and knowledge of Child Sexual Abuse(CSA).
Children do have voices. Sometimes they are unable to articulate with words what is happening to them. Instead, they can show us in other ways including changes in behaviours, physical and psychological signs. Learning to identify these signs and respond to them, along with arming ourselves with knowledge on who perpetrators who cause harm are, could change the course of a child's life and minimise adverse outcomes.
Statistics are alarming with 28.5% of Australians having experienced child sexual abuse.
1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys.
90% of perpetrators are known to the child.
1 in 10 men has confessed to committing child sex crimes.
It is essential to understand that signs of CSA will be affected by the age and development of the child or young person and the way they present. Some children and young people will not show any obvious signs or symptoms.
The following information on the signs children and young people can exhibit when they have Sexually Abused, have been resourced for you from Kristi McVee and the Australian Government Child Safety website www.childsafety.gov.au
Kristi McVee is a child safety educator who has experience working with children and young people and extensive knowledge in identifying Child Sexual Abuse. You can find more information at her website here.
One of these things alone does not mean Child Sexual Abuse(CSA) but combined with other signs, it could be worth investigating.
Behavioural Signs
Taking clothes off when not appropriate.
Touching parent's private parts without consent or reason (not a sign on its own).
Issues sleeping through the night/nightmares.
Not wanting to see someone or spend time alone with someone they previously did or liked.
Asking someone to lick or suck their private parts.
Sexualised behaviours (if ongoing, get worse or combined with other signs).
Touching or rubbing their genitals (not necessarily as a sign on its own).
Removing nappy (not necessarily a sign on its own).
Talking about fingers/things in the bum or the vagina.
Sticking thing/fingers in bum or vagina.
Poor hygiene and self-care.
Substance use.
Aggression and anger.
Running away.
Desexualisation (wearing baggy clothing).
Regression in developmental achievements.
Developmental delays.
Self-stimulatory behaviours (rocking, head banging).
Physical signs
Red inflamed, sore looking genitals( more specifically vagina/vulva and bottom).
Recurring UTI’s.
Excessive or extended periods of bedwetting (not just one-off).
Soiling of pants/underwear (when toilet trained.
Constipation.
STI’s- irrefutable evidence.
Headache.
Stomach aches.
Change in appetite and/or weight loss/gain.
Bruises on soft parts of the body like bum and thighs.
Psychological/Emotional signs
Depression.
Anxiety and mood changes.
Social withdrawal.
Dissociation.
Self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Eating disorders.
Fear of people and places.
We know that only a small number of children and young people will tell someone directly that they have been sexually abused. It is more common for them to tell adults in indirect ways. We can ensure their safety by understanding how they behave and observing any changes. Child Sexual Abuse can affect children and young people in many different ways, so becoming aware of the various range of common signs of abuse can help safeguard and protect them as early as possible.
Always Believe The Child.
Statistic sources:
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