31 - Sexual abuse and sexual maltreatment

Summary

Definition and epidemiology

The term child sexual abuse is used to describe the involvement of dependent and developmentally immature children and adolescents in sexual activities which they do not fully comprehend, and to which they are unable to give informed consent, and that violate the social taboos of family roles (Schechter and Roberge, 1976). Thus sexual abuse is present in such cases even if the child does not actively oppose the sexual advances and the offender does not use force.

The term sexual maltreatment is used when the use of force or violence is present and sexual activity is brought about against the child's will. One common type of sexual maltreatment is incest, a term used to describe sexual activity between family members. Sexual relationships between father and daughter and uncle and niece are the most common forms of incest. Child sexual abuse always results in a highly asymmetrical power distribution and a situation of dependency to the child's distinct disadvantage.

Every third or fourth adult is said to have experienced some type of sexual abuse as a child. According to statistics from USA, 5–10% of women report incestuous relationships. Such relationships cannot be considered single occurrences, as they are reported to have lasted an average of 2–3 years.

In Germany about 15 000 cases of child sexual abuse are reported to the police every year, involving more than that number of children, of which 77% are girls. These data clearly indicate that, in a considerable number of cases, an episode of sexual abuse involved more than one child.