The Issue

Child sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in contact or non-contact sexual activities. A child may or may not be aware of what is happening.

Child sexual abuse is commonly perpetrated by people known to the child including parents, siblings, relatives, friends or others in their wider community who are in positions of trust such as their sports coach, teacher or religious leader. Child sexual abuse is perpetrated by people of all genders and by children as well as adults. However, International and New Zealand research does identify the majority of perpetrators are male. New Zealand research found that “the majority of perpetrators were male family members of the victim”. (Fanslow et al., 2008). The Australian Institute of Family Studies Resource Sheet provides an overview of the evidence available regarding those who abuse children.

The term institutional child sexual abuse is used to distinguish abuse in an organisational setting from that which occurs in a family or other non-institutional environment. Those who commit abuse in an institutional setting often have multiple victims and abuse over many years. If an organisational culture of acceptance of abuse exists, this can lend itself to supporting numerous perpetrators. Many organisations have compounded abuse through cultures of denial, secrecy and self-protection.

The evidence is clear that for children being sexually abused, the negative social, economic, psychological, spiritual and health effects are detrimental and have long-term costs for individuals, family and whānau, communities and society. Directly or indirectly, sexual abuse impacts us all.

The true statistics are not known as most sexual abuse goes unreported due to grooming, shame, stigma and institutional cultures of denial. The Royal Commission of Inquiry, Abuse in Care is only just revealing the nature and extent of institutional abuse in state and faith care settings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In addition to this, Aotearoa New Zealand has limited statistical data on the numbers of children where sexual abuse is reported.  A snapshot of what we do know about rates of child sexual abuse are presented below.

Aotearoa New Zealand research has found that 23.5% of women in Auckland and 28.2% in Waikato reported having been sexually touched, or made to do something sexual that they did not want to do prior to the age of 15 years. (Fanslow et al., 2008).

Due to increased risk factors and fewer protective factors some children are more vulnerable and are at increased risk of being sexually abused than the general population. This includes Māori, Pacific, Takatāpui/Rainbow, Pasifika/Rainbow, LGBTQIA+, refugee and migrant and disabled children. (Fanslow et al., 2008; Fa’alili-Fidlow et al., 2016; Ministry of Justice, 2023; Zou & Anderson, 2015; Egan-Britan, 2022; Skarbek et al., 2009).

We need to think about how we protect those groups and communities of children and young people. If we are aware of these vulnerabilities, we can intervene early and provide them with extra protection which can lower the likelihood of child sexual abuse, and if abuse has occurred, can help support healing. ​

Government investment is required to improve national data collection and information systems so that a more accurate baseline of the nature of problems such as child sexual abuse is established to support possible solutions becoming clearer and subsequent monitoring of progress.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to child sexual exploitation and that this often occurs as a concept of exchange. The young person is enjoying this relationship as they get perceived rewards from it, however this can be conditional that they ‘exchange’ sex for, this is a form of sexual exploitation. If you are working with young people who display the following behaviours or indicators, it is worth stepping closer to them and finding out what their relationships look like:

• Going missing from home/school.
• Getting money/phone credit/clothes/drugs or alcohol from an unknown source.
• Start a relationship with an older person.
• Spending all their time with an older person, not seeing their old friendship group anymore.

International child sexual exploitation happens here in Aotearoa New Zealand. ECPAT are an international organisation who have a New Zealand office, working to protect children from sexual exploitation.

Children and perpetrators can exhibit behaviours which may indicate possible sexual abuse.  It is important for those in a child’s world to be able to identify and appropriately respond to such behaviours. These warning signs are opportunities for prevention. A chance for adults to recognise and act on risks to protect children. Prevention results in no child victim to heal or perpetrator to punish.

One sign does not necessarily mean that a child or young person is being sexually abused. However, it should not be discounted. Begin asking open questions and think about seeking help if several signs have been observed. Bear in mind, some signs are seen at other times of stress such as:

• During a divorce.
• Death of a family member or pet.
• Problems at school or with friends.
• Other anxiety-inducing or traumatic events.

Below are signs, symptoms, behaviours and indicators of sexual abuse you may notice. Please note these lists are not exhaustive and should be put in context of the situation.

Sometimes children do disclose what is happening to them, so it is crucial in these situations that we believe children and young people when they disclose as research shows false allegations are rare. (London et al., 2008; O’Donohue et al., 2018).

We understand that child sexual abuse is a sensitive and difficult issue to talk about. Unless we talk about it as a nation and we step up as adults, fully embracing our responsibility to protect children and respond effectively when we suspect, or when a child discloses sexual abuse, we need to ask ourselves – can we live with the consequences?

For resources and guidance on how to do this, refer to our sections specifically created for either Parents (including community) or Organisations working with children or their families.