Child sexual abuse



How can we protect children? It can happen to anyone



A common misconception is that we shouldn't talk to children about sexuality or the risk of abuse. Talking openly with children is important because it helps them understand their boundaries, builds trust, and gives them the tools to communicate.


About 8 children per class in school have been subjected to sexual abuse. The perpetrator can be anyone: an adult, another child, or someone on the internet.


Only 1 in 10 children tell an adult. Sadly, anyone can become a victim, but we can protect our children by being aware of the issue and informing children about the risks.


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Only 1 in 10...



...children tells an adult about the abuse. Studies show the average time for child sexual abuse survivors to tell someone for the first time is 16-20 years.

*Reference: Allmänna barnhuset, WONSA, Bravehearts



8 children per class...



Eight children per class or every 3rd child are subjected to sexual abuse in some form.
*Reference: Allmänna Barnhuset, Sweden



2 children per class...



...are subjected to sexual abuse by a family member, caretaker or close relative (incest).

*Reference: Nxtme, treskablinoll



Protecting children



We can protect children from sexual abuse by talking to them about child grooming, risks of abuse, and online content.

*Reference: View further down this page



Who is the offender?



Any child can become a victim, regardless of socio-economic status. Offenders may seem kind and charming, and they often build trust with parents or the child. That’s why the problem can be difficult to detect. All parents need to talk to their children about bodily autonomy. That may include telling children that no one is allowed to touch their private body parts (genitals, bottom, mouth, chest). This is something children can learn early, already from around the age of 3.


We can activate porn filters on phones and computers. We can talk to kids about sex and the internet—places where many offenders make contact with children.


Under "Webinars" you can watch our lecture on child sexual abuse. You can also make sure your childrens school or daycare take action against child sexual abuse (CSA). For example, they can introduce policies to ensure staff are never alone with children, install vision panels (see-through glass) in changing areas and bathrooms, and conduct thorough background checks.

*Ref: 1. Allmänna barnahuset, 2021



Webinar



Kids can accidentally watch porn



Talk to teens & kids, 8-15 yrs



Children as young as 8 years old often come into contact with pornography—sometimes because a friend shows it to them, but more often by accident while browsing unrelated topics online. Some online games and mobile apps contain pop-ups and ads for pornographic content. The average age to see porn the first time is 12.

Today’s pornography can be extreme and unrealistic. Abuse and incest can appear in explicit content online. In these situations, it’s crucial that the child has a parent who is open, supportive, and someone they can talk to—without feeling judged or shamed.


Ext. link: Thorn - Parent guide



Safeguarding children



What´s your school doing to prevent child sexual abuse?



Offenders often seek out places where children are – schools, preschools, sports activities, the internet, fairs, hobbies, and so on. Make sure you follow up on the work being done at your child’s preschool & school to prevent sexual violence. Are thorough background checks being done? Are there policies in place to prevent sexual abuse? Are substitutes allowed to change your child’s diaper?


Use our checklist below and bring it up at your next parent meeting.


Coming soon

How can it happen?



Perpetrators will seek out places where children are



How perpetrators groom children



The grooming behaviour cycle will teach us how perpetrators can step-by-step make attempts to get access to children in order to abuse them sexually. For example:


Grooming behavior: Perpetrators often use grooming behavior to gain the victim’s trust and make them feel comfortable before committing acts of sexual violence. Grooming can involve buying gifts, giving special attention, or isolating the victim from others. Perpetrators may also groom and manipulate the parents, gaining trust and getting alone-time with the child.



Its important for parents to stay aware of these behaviors and take action if there are concerns about a child's safety or well-being. Sexual abuse can occur in places where the child is alone with the perpetrator, such as during babysitting, at school, at sports activities, or at someone else's home. There are also offenders who contact children online and arrange meetings with them.


Grooming behavior is when the offender builds the child’s trust in order to later commit sexual abuse. It’s also common for offenders to threaten the child into silence or lying about "horrible consequences" that might happen if the child tells someone in order to keep them silent. Perpetrators may tell the child that it's a secret no one else should know. Read more below.



Grooming behaviour



How perpetrators try to get close to your child



Trust



Building trust: The perpetrator may try to build a relationship with the child and establish trust, often by offering gifts or special attention.


Normalization



Normalization: The perpetrator may try to normalize sexual behavior or make the child feel that the behavior is acceptable or normal. They may do this by exposing the child to sexual material or images, or by talking to them about sex in an inappropriate way.


Desensitization



Desensitization: The perpetrator may attempt to desensitize the child to sexual activity by gradually introducing sexual behavior or touching over time.


Isolation



Isolation: The perpetrator may try to isolate the child from others, for example by offering to be alone with them or keeping them away from family and friends.




Healing from child sexual abuse



There is a need for more therapy and support specifically focused on sexual trauma in healthcare. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of knowledge and resources in this area. To get support, it's important to seek help through your healthcare center and request trauma-based therapy for sexual abuse. Common treatment options include TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and CBT-PE (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Prolonged Exposure), which work well for many with single-trauma, but the effectiveness depends on the depth of the trauma. For deeper traumas, other methods may be necessary like Lifespan Integration or RTM.


Many support organizations also offer excellent help, such as support persons, support groups, and counseling. However, counseling alone is not sufficient treatment, and medication is less effective than therapy according to research.


For long-term repeated incest and deep trauma, we recommend Lifespan Integration as the therapeutic method, as it carries a minimal risk of re-traumatization and offers the best recovery. However, the best therapeutic method may vary depending on the individual case and clinical assessment should be made. Trauma based therapy (for specifically sexual abuse of children) can be hard to find, unless you know what you are looking for, and you can reach out to WONSA.org, RAINN or Lifespan Integrations official webpage.


Support organisations



A big problem in society



Statistics



According to Swedish Allmänna barnahuset, about one in three children is subjected to sexual abuse, which equals approximately 29% of children. Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 children tell an adult about the abuse.


According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRÅ), about 10% of these crimes are reported to the police.


Allmänna barnahuset also shows that 70% of children know their abuser. When girls are abused, 98% of the offenders are men. When boys are abused, 38% of the offenders are men and 62% are women. This statistic shows that sexual abuse is a widespread problem, and it is something we all need to address collectively. We must work proactively with both children and adults to prevent it.


Find support



Activate filter



Did you know that most web browsers, iPads, computers, and phones actually have built-in filters to block pornography?


You can activate them in under 60 seconds using the guide from the organization Porrfri Barndom! Click the link below to visit their website in a new tab.


Activate (swedish)

Filing a police report



You don’t have to go through a police report on your own. There are many support organizations that can offer, for example, a support person who can accompany you and provide assistance. Everyone has the right to a victim’s counsel/lawyer.


You can start by filing a police report by calling, or visit the police station, and briefly explain what happened and what you want to report. When the police ask for more information, you can state that you don’t want to provide any further details until you have a victim’s counsel or a lawyer (whose fees are covered by the state, but this may differ depending on your region). Your local support organisation can help you with this, prior to filing the police report.


After filing the report, you will be called for an initial interview with your lawyer. You can choose a lawyer beforehand, and the police will send them an assignment, or they will appoint one for you. You can also request the police to inform you about the steps in the process, and they will provide updates, such as when they contact the perpetrator, etc.

You can browse support organisations on our support page.



Statue of limitations



Is the crime time-barred? Legal regulations may differ depending on region or country.


In Sweden, the statute of limitations is 10 years for regular rape and 15 years for aggravated rape. For children who have been victims, the statute of limitations starts from the time they turn 18. However, since 2020, a new law was enacted, which decided that the statute of limitations no longer applies to sexual offenses against children committed after 2020. This means that you can report sexual offenses against children no matter how long ago the crime occurred. According to the previous statute of limitations law, the following applies: You can report up until the age of 28 if the case concerns child rape. If it concerns aggravated child rape, you can report until the age of 33. Aggravated rape can be considered when the child is very young, if threats and violence are used, if multiple perpetrators are involved, or if the assault itself is deemed particularly severe. Want to learn more? Legislation is constantly being updated. Check RAINN or your local organisation for more information.



SRHR & Sexual Health Education



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