What is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse occurs when a person forces a child to have any form of sexual contact or makes a child perform sexual acts. Sexual abuse may involve touching private parts of the body, penetration using an object, forced sexual acts between children, or making a child view, read, or participate in pornography.
Sexual abuse is also known as molestation. Sexual molestation is overwhelming to children, especially when an adult is involved. Most children tend to trust adults, and believe what adults tell them is true, rather than rely on their own feelings. Children fear that telling will make people angry at them. It is often extremely difficult for children to report abuse.