User:Samthebossbabe/Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.[1][2] Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (whether by asking or pressuring, or by other means), indecent exposure, child grooming, and child sexual exploitation,[3][4][5] such as using a child to produce child pornography.[1][6] Child sexual abuse is a pernicious crime perpetrated through threats of violence, intimidation, manipulation, and abuse of power.

CSA is not confined to specific settings; it permeates various institutions and communities. CSA affects children in all socioeconomic levels, across all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups, and in both rural and urban areas. Schools, homes, and online spaces are just a few contexts where minors are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. (in places where child labor is common). Child marriage is one of the main forms of child sexual abuse; UNICEF has stated that child marriage "represents perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls".[7] The effects of child sexual abuse can include depression,[8] post-traumatic stress disorder,[9] anxiety,[10] complex post-traumatic stress disorder,[11][not verified in body] propensity to further victimization in adulthood,[12] and physical injury to the child, among other problems.[13] Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.[14]

Before the age of 18, 1 in 5 children are sexually abused, this equates to more than 1 million children will be sexually abused this year. Reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveal that about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse. One study found an estimated 19.7% of females and 7.9% of males experienced some form of child sexual abuse prior to the age of 18.[15] Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles, or cousins;[16][not verified in body] around 60% are other acquaintances, such as "friends" of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.[17] Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; studies on female child molesters show that women commit 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.[17][18][19][not verified in body]It is crucial to acknowledge that these numbers likely underestimate the true extent of the problem, given that many children either delay reporting or never disclose such incidents.

According to the United States Department of Education, 1 in 10 children experience some form of sexual misconduct by school employees. Since 2019, there has been an 87% increase in reported CSA material due to online exposure and enticement. Online Enticement encompasses various forms of online exploitation, such as sextortion, where a child is manipulated into sending images or meeting in person for sexual activities, or engaging in sexual conversations online, and sometimes even selling or trading the child’s sexual images. This kind of exploitation happens across all kinds of online platforms, including social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms. In 2022, there were 85 million images and videos of child sexual abuse online.

The word pedophile is commonly applied indiscriminately to anyone who sexually abuses a child,[20] but child sexual offenders are not pedophiles unless they have a strong sexual interest in prepubescent children.[21][22][not verified in body] Under the law, child sexual abuse is often used as an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.[6][23][not verified in body] The American Psychological Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and condemns any such action by an adult: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."[24][not verified in body]

Types[edit]

Child sexual abuse includes a variety of sexual offenses, including:

• sexual assault – a term defining offenses in which an adult uses a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification; for example, rape (including sodomy), and sexual penetration with an object. Most U.S. states include, in their definitions of sexual assault, any penetrative contact of a minor's body, however slight, if the contact is performed for the purpose of sexual gratification.
• sexual exploitation – a term defining offenses in which an adult victimizes a minor for advancement, sexual gratification, or profit; for example, prostituting a child, live streaming sexual abuse, and creating or trafficking in child pornography.
• sexual grooming – a term defining the social conduct of a potential child sex offender who seeks to make a minor more accepting of their advances, for example in an online chat room.
• sextortion - a term defining where children are threatened or blackmailed, most often with the possibility of sharing with the public a nude or sexual images of them, by a person who demands additional sexual content, sexual activity or money from the child.

While progress has been made in raising awareness and implementing preventive measures, challenges persist in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators, supporting victims, and addressing systemic factors contributing to abuse. Cultural and societal stigmas, coupled with underreporting and insufficient resources, further complicate the landscape. Additionally, the rapid evolution of technology introduces new challenges, such as online exploitation and grooming. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) combats child sexual abuse and exploitation through a range of initiatives including providing assistance to law enforcement, offering resources and support to families of missing and exploited children, raising public awareness, facilitating prevention programs, and operating a hotline for reporting and responding to incidents of child sexual exploitation. Despite advancements in understanding and addressing CSA, a more comprehensive and coordinated approach is needed to effectively combat this deeply concerning issue and ensure the safety and well-being of all children. Legislative efforts like the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally enacted in 1974 and subsequently amended, provide federal funding and guidance to states for prevention, investigation, and treatment activities. Erin’s Law, enacted in 38 states, mandates prevention-oriented CSA programs in public schools, illustrating ongoing efforts to address this critical issue at both federal and state levels. These legislative measures demonstrate a concerted effort to address CSA, yet the complex challenges that persist underscore the urgent need for continued advocacy, collaboration, and resource allocation to protect children and eradicate this pervasive threat to their well-being.