Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is the use of a child for sexual gratification by an older or more powerful person. This involves touching as well nontouching behaviors, and includes, but is not limited to, penetration of a child's vagina, mouth, or anus by penis, other body parts, or inanimate objects; simulated intercourse; genital touching; touching of other body parts such as breasts, nipples, and buttocks; exhibitionism (exposing sexual body parts, sometimes called “flashing”); voyeurism (sexualizing other people who are in states of undress or engaged in sexual activities without their knowledge, sometimes called “peeping”); deep, sexualized kissing; exposure to age-inappropriate sexual activity or material; and use of a child in pornography or prostitution.

The World Health Organization defines child sexual abuse as involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or is not developmentally prepared for and cannot consent to, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by an activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; the exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices; and the exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.

While there are variations in how countries, researchers, and academic disciplines define child sexual abuse, the core definition involves the abuse of power, power differentials, the inability of children to give informed consent, and sexual gratification or stimulation of perpetrators. The term children generally refers to those under the age of 18.