Signs of sexual abuse of children

Child sexual abuse can cause long-term physical and psychological pain, increase awareness of the severity and magnitude of the problem; you may be concerned about your children; learn about the most important signs of a child being sexually assaulted;
What is the definition of child sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse with children, whether adults or other children, is considered sexual abuse of children and causes physical and psychological pain to a long-term child, so sexual abuse is a serious crime against the child.

Sexual abuse of children is not an easy problem, especially with children's fear, and they are embarrassed to tell an adult about what they have been subjected to.

Often the aggressor is a person who knows the child, and the child trusts him well under his instructions and orders. This person may be a family member or someone who lives in that child's home and may be a stranger.

Parents should not be overly concerned about the occurrence of sexual abuse of their children. It should also be noted that the risk of sexual abuse is low.

A happy family is less likely to have sexual assault, but parents should monitor any form of abuse or abuse of children. They should have vigilant eyes about any symptoms that may appear to the child as a sexual assault.

The following physical and behavioral symptoms may indicate a child being sexually assaulted

• If your child tells you that he or she has been touched improperly or sexually.
• If your child is acting inappropriately sexual behavior with others, this involves touching others inappropriately.
• If your child is saying inappropriate sexual words.
• If your child is aware of sexual matters appear to be inappropriate for his mental and age level.
• If your child seems isolated and refuses to hug all or some family members, family friends, a school teacher, or a particular person.
• If your child is suffering from depression or anxiety and stress continuously.
• If your child is making comments about his or her low self-worth.
• The presence of blood in the underwear of young children.
• When the young child complains of pain in the genital area.
• Injuries in the genital area of ​​your child such as bruising, bleeding or swelling, and may cause pain to the child when walking or sitting.
  Signs of infection in your child's urinary tract, including frequent burning, itching or sexually transmitted infections.
  Pregnancy.
• Academic changes as low grades and frequent absence.
• Deterioration in the child's condition such as night urination or finger sucking.
• If your child is acting excessively and exaggerated towards one of the siblings.
• Change in personal hygiene habits such as refusal to take a bath in younger children, but in older children they take more showers to clean themselves, which may cause them embarrassment or shame in front of parents.
• Receive a gift suddenly from a person with authority such as a teacher or coach or others.
  What do you do if you know your child has been sexually assaulted?

The categories most vulnerable to sexual abuse

Any child or minor may be a victim of sexual exploitation, but there are groups more vulnerable to them:

• Children are homeless.
• Children lack self-confidence.
• Those who have been denied or lost talk.
• Living in care institutions.

Tracking signs of sexual abuse of children

It is difficult to trace the signs of sexual abuse of children, especially if they are threatened by the aggressor. To protect them, it is important to know which signs may indicate sexual abuse.
Are important signs that raise doubts about the sexual exploitation of children

• Missing the child for periods of time, and return home frequently.
• Lack of attendance at school.
• Child acts of sabotage.
• The appearance of gifts and belongings with the child can not be justified.
• suffering from symptoms indicating the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
• Mood swings and changes constantly.
• Use of medicines and alcohol.
• Show inappropriate sexual behaviors such as exaggerated familiarity with strangers, wearing erotic clothes, or sending sexual images via mobile.
• We can also find signs of physical abuse such as bruises and cigarette burns.
  Prevention of sexual abuse of children

This is the advice of the British National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse:

• Help the child to understand his body, and understand sex in a way that suits his age.
• Build an open and reliable relationship with the child, so that he feels he can speak to you safely.
  Explain the difference between safe secrets (such as a surprise birthday party for family or friends) and unsafe secrets (things that do not make them happy or comfortable).
• Children are taught to respect the boundaries within the family, such as privacy during sleep, dressing and bathing.
• Teach them self-respect, and their promises to say no to things they do not welcome.
• Supervised the use of the Internet and television.

Who is the sexually exploited

Most of them are men. This does not negate the involvement of women sometimes, whether in the sexual act, or as a facilitator to facilitate the relationship between the harasser and the child. Identifying aggressors is very difficult because they are usually able to hide behind the mask of innocence.
Important steps if you have any doubts

1. Do not face the aggressor
   Confronting him presents the child with more dangers, and gives him the opportunity to threaten the child and force him to remain silent.

2. Immediately seek the advice of specialists
   Discuss concerns with child protection institutions, or hotlines against violence against children, ask them about:

• How to stop further abuse.
• How to talk to the child, to make sure he is being violated.
• If you are certain that the child has been abused, contact the police immediately.

The role that specialists can play

• Ensuring that the violation occurs and documenting it, and knowing exactly what to look for, to make sure and document incidents of sexual abuse, facilitate this task.
  Rates of sexual abuse of children

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 40 million children suffer from violence against children in the Americas and Caribbean region. This statistic is not limited to sexual violence, but includes all types of violence.

The majority of minors who suffer from physical abuse are between the ages of 2 - 7, and the most severely affected are the 3-5 years old.

In Jordan, for example, the Family Protection Unit in Jordan examined 437 cases during 1998, of which 174 cases of sexual abuse. The aggressor was within the family in 48 cases and was known to the victim (neighbor or relative) in 79 cases, 47 case was strange about the child.

In Lebanon, a study published by L'Oriente Le Jour showed that in all cases, the harasser was aged 7 to 13 and that the victim included 18 girls and 10 boys between the ages of 1.5-17 years. The fourth Lebanese Conference on the Protection of Juveniles The number of sexual assaults on minors, especially males, by their relatives or minor offenders.

While the first study in Egypt on incidents of child molestation, prepared by Dr. Faten Abdul Rahman Al Tanbari, assistant professor of media at the Institute of Graduate Studies for Childhood at Ain Shams University, indicated that child sexual abuse accounted for 18% of all incidents related to children. Child victim The study indicated that 35% of the incidents the offender had a relationship with the child victim, and in 65% of cases there is no related relationship.

In a 2001 study conducted by Dr. Fadila Mahrous, she found that 82% of sexual assault occurred in places that were supposed to be safe for the child and for reliable people in the child.

A study by a specialist at the Social Welfare Center in Riyadh confirmed that 80 percent of child abusers are relatives, which means that the aggressor is often a person who exploits the child's confidence to induce him to engage in practices that the child does not really know and be deceived at first.

Dealing with the sexual abuse of children

The following video shows the child sexual abuse counselor the role of parents and educators, if they have doubts about the sexual abuse of one of their children, and explains how they can be sexually abused. Discuss the matter with the child.