Child Sexual Assault

Child sexual assault is a crime.

It is usually committed by a person who has been in a position of power and trust in the child’s life. We believe that:

  • children are dependent, vulnerable and impressionable and are never responsible for child sexual abuse
  • the responsibility for the abuse lies 100% with the abuser
  • child sexual abuse is a betrayal of trust and misuse of power
  • child sexual abuse can seriously affect people’s lives, including how they view themselves and their beliefs about how others view them
  • people who have been sexually abused in childhood have the ability to overcome the effects of the abuse

    • Abusers use strategies to ensure that the abuse remains a secret and to avoid responsibility for their actions.

    Part of this includes tricking the child into believing that they are to blame, and that it is not safe to tell. The abuser often tricks the child into believing that their mother knows about the aubse and will not stop it.