What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse can be physical, visual or verbal

Although the legal definition of child sexual abuse varies by state, it is generally defined as any tricked, forced, coerced or manipulated sexual activity with a child for the sexual gratification of, or financial benefit to the abuser. Sexual abuse can be physical, visual or verbal.

Child abuse is a crime perpetrated within every ethnicity and race, gender, religion and socio-economic tier.

One in four girls and one in six boys are victims of sexual abuse by their 18th birthday. This crime is severely underreported; oftentimes because it is perpetrated by someone the child/family knows and cares about. Children don’t tell for many reasons, including feelings of shame, threats, responsibility for the abuse, and fear of what will happen if they tell.