and Sexual Assault Line
#250-438 Victoria Avenue East, Regina, Saskatchewan, 522-2777
Information for individuals who suspect sexual abuse of a child
Behavioural indicators
Physical indicators
What to do
Information for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Common aftereffects
Getting help
Who to contact
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Definition:
"Child sexual abuse refers to the use of a child (defined as any person under the age of 16) by an adult for sexual purposed whether or not consent is alleged to have been given. It includes: acts of exposure; sexual touching; oral or vaginal penetration; and the exposing of a child to, or involving a child, in pornography or prostitution. Any form of direct or indirect sexual contact between a child and an adult is abusive since it is motivated purely by adult needs and involves a child who, by virtue of her/his age and position in life, is unable to give consent. Sexual activity between children constitutes sexual abuse when it is between siblings or when it is clear, by difference in developmental levels, coercion and/or lack of mutuality, that one child is taking advantage of another." (Child Sexual Abuse Protocol, 3rd Edition, 1995, p.1)
Further examples of child sexual abuse can include taking pictures or videos of naked children, making children look at pornographic pictures or videos of people having sex, showing children a person's "private parts", making children touch a person's "private parts" in any way, or making rude/lewd or suggestive sexual comments to a child. In Canada, sexual offences including act of exposure, sexual touching , oral, anal and/or vaginal penetration, exposing a child to, or involving a child in pornography or prostitution are crimes that are included in the Canadian Criminal Code. Sexual abuse is illegal; it is a crime!