Child Sexual abuse or exploitation occurs anytime a person older than the child or teenager uses them for personal gratification.
Due to the innocence and cognitive development of children, they do not have the understanding and may not be capable of resisting sexual contact.

Sex offenders convince themselves and the children and youth whom they sexually abuse that they love them. Be aware that children and youth may be psychologically and socially dependent upon the perpetrating offender.

The exposure to inappropriate sexual stimuli encompasses a broad spectrum of sexual acts, both touching and non-touching.

Touching sexual offenses include, but are not limited to:

• Fondling
• Making a child touch an older person or an adult’s sexual organs
• Oral, genital and anal penetration with objects
• Anal or vaginal intercourse
• Forcible rape, anal or vaginal

Non-touching sexual offenses include, but are not limited to:

• Inappropriate verbal comments
• Exposing a child / youth to pornography or to adult sexual activity
• Photographing a child nude in sexual situations or positions
• Exhibitionism – exposing genitals to a child
• Masturbation in front of a child

Child sexual abuse is defined as a sexual assault on, or the sexual exploitation of, a minor, and it is criminal behavior punishable by law.

Types of Child Abuse: