What is Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse occurs any time an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. 

This can include:-

• “non-touching behaviors,” such as showing pornography to a child, 
• exposing genitals to a child, 
• watching children undress or 
• watching children use the bathroom (with or without their knowledge), or 
• directing children to engage in sexual behavior with one another

• It also includes “touching behaviors,” such as touching a child’s genitals, 
• having a child touch an adult’s genitals, or 
• any type of penetration.

Most children are abused by 
someone they know and trust!

Approximately 30% of abusers are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; 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.

False allegations of sexual abuse are extremely rare. Research indicates that approximately two percent of sexual abuse reports made by children are false. A child cannot explicitly depict the details of sexual acts performed on him or her unless the child has experienced or witnessed it.

Sexual abuse of children has long term psychological effects. These effects include low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, fear, hostility, chronic tension, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, self-mutilation, post traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, multiple personality disorder, repeat victimization, substance abuse and prostitution.

Experiencing child sexual abuse is strongly linked to suicide. Independent of psychopathology and other known risk factors, child sexual abuse accounts for 9–20 percent of suicide attempts in adults.

Pedophilia is an addiction. Most abusers will abuse many children, and cannot just decide to stop abusing without receiving treatment. Pedophilia is often viewed like alcoholism or other addictions- the addicts cannot be “rehabilitated” but can learn to resist the temptation. Without treatment from professionals trained in treating sex offenders, the abusers will generally continue to abuse as long as they have access to children.

Adults can often protect children by being informed about warning signs of abusers and trusting their intuition when something makes them uncomfortable. It is important to note that some abusers seem entirely appropriate and “normal.”

That said, the following behaviors are cause for concern:

• Someone insists on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, wrestling with or holding a child even when the child does not want this physical contact or attention
• Someone makes sexual references or tells sexual or suggestive jokes with children present
• Someone spends excessive time emailing, text messaging or calling children or youth
• Someone seems “too good to be true,” for example, baby sits for free; takes children on special outings alone; buys children gifts or gives them money for no apparent reason

People who sexually abuse children 
rely on our confusion and on our reluctance 
to acknowledge discomfort.

Our silence creates an environment that is safe for child abusers and dangerous for children. 
Dealing with sexual abuse “quietly” or secretively is unwittingly cooperating with abusers and allowing them to continue their abuse. 
Speaking out exposes the abuser and helps to prevent them from claiming more victims. 
It also sends a clear message to other abusers, that they cannot depend on our silence to protect them.

Magen, the new Bet Shemesh Child Protection Organization, in Israel provides the following services:

1. Awareness and Education
2. Information Hotline
3. Support for victims and their families
4. Responding to perpetrators in our community

Please contact Magen at magenprotects@gmail.com
Magen- Protecting Children and Families