What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is the use of a child for sexual gratification by an older or more powerful person. The offender is usually an adult, but could also be a more powerful child. Both girls and boys are vulnerable. Besides being a public health concern, it is a crime punishable by law.

Types of Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse includes the following touching and non-touching behaviors (but need not be limited only to these acts).

Touching behaviors include:

Fondling a child's body for sexual pleasure

Kissing a child with sexual undertones/inclinations.

Rubbing genitals against a child's body.

Sexually touching a child's body, and specifically private parts and encouraging or forcing a child to do likewise.

Making a child touch someone else's genitals, or playing sexual games.

Encouraging or forcing a child to masturbate, with the child as either a participant or observer.

Encouraging or forcing a child to perform oral sex (mouth-to-genital contact on or by the child)

Inserting objects or body parts (like fingers, tongue or penis) inside the vagina, mouth, or anus of a child; includes attempts of these acts.

Non-touching behaviors include:

Encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts either in person or lowering the bars of privacy

Looking at a child sexually

Exposing one's private body parts to a child (exhibitionism)

Watching a child in a state of nudity, such as while undressing, using the bathroom, with or without the child's knowledge (voyeurism)

An adult making suggestive comments to the child that are sexual in nature.

Commenting on the sexual development of a child

Encouraging or forcing a child to read/watch pornography, giving pornographic material or using the child in pornography Source: www.tulir.org