What is child sexual abuse?
Your body belongs to you and you have the right to say no.
If someone is
- doing things to you or
- asking or forcing you to do things to them or someone else and
- it makes you feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or scared
this can be sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse could be:
- If someone is looking at your private parts, or is touching your private parts even if you are wearing clothes
- If someone asks you to touch or look at someone else’s private parts
- If someone takes pictures of your private parts
- If someone asks you to look at pictures or videos showing naked people or private parts
- If someone wants to be your friend but tells you to keep it a secret, and they ask you to do things that makes you feel uncomfortable
If anyone – whether it’s an adult or another child – does anything like this, it is not ok and is against the law.
Sexual abuse is not part of a normal relationship and it is not a sign of love.
It can be scary, but telling someone can help to make it stop. Talk to an adult you trust so they can help you.
Remember, it is not your fault if this has happened to you.
How and where does sexual abuse happen?
Sexual abuse can happen anywhere. It could be online, during activities like sport or music lessons, or it could happen in a place you visit regularly.
It might an adult, like a family friend, a family member, or neighbour, or another child you know who does this.
Online sexual abuse might be someone sending you inappropriate pictures of themselves or asking you to share photos of videos of yourself, including your private parts.
Someone might start chatting to you online and then ask to meet you. Not everyone online is who they say they are.
If anything like this has ever happened to you or a friend, you should tell a trusted adult.
You won’t be in trouble, and you are not alone. A trusted adult will listen to you, believe you, and include you when they help you to report it.