Sexual abuse

Across the UK, a shared definition of sexual abuse or harm is: 

Any behaviour perceived to be of a sexual nature that is unwanted or happens without consent or understanding. The abuse may involve physical contact and touching or non-contact activities.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities
• rape
• sexual harassment
• indecent exposure
• sexual assault
• sexual photography
• inappropriate looking, touching, or sexual teasing

Consent is a critical factor and must be freely given, with full understanding and capacity. Abuse may occur physically, emotionally, or digitally, and can be perpetrated by adults or other children.

Across the UK nations, there are some differences to how we understand sexual harm and abuse:

Sexual abuse is found across all sections of society, irrespective  of gender, age, ability, religion, race, ethnicity, personal circumstances, financial background or sexual orientation. It can be perpetrated by family or non-family members, women, men and other children.

Children and young people 

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is when a child or young person is involved in sexual activity for someone else's gratification or gain. This is abuse, even if the child is said to have agreed or consented.

Examples of child sexual abuse include:

• forcing or persuading a child to take part in sexual acts, whether or not they understand what’s happening.
• exposing a child to adult sexual content or activities, or taking indecent photos or videos of them.
• using sexual language with a child or encouraging them to act in sexually inappropriate ways.
• grooming a child for abuse, either in person or online.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse where a child is abused in exchange for money, power, or status. 

Sexual abuse can cause children to experience confusing or premature sexual feelings, often leading to guilt or shame. They may need reassurance that they are not to blame.

An important legal point to note is that any penetrative sexual activity with a child under 13—by an adult or another child—is considered rape. This applies across the UK.

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse may struggle to form healthy, trusting relationships as adults.

Sexual abuse of adults 

The sexual abuse of adults involves sexual acts to which the person has not consented or has been pressured into consenting to. 

Examples of sexual abuse of adults can include: 

• penetrative or non-penetrative sexual acts, whether they aware of what is happening or not e.g. sexual assault, oral sex, rape, attempted rape, and date rape. 
• indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, groping, sexual teasing or innuendo, 
• being made to look at or be involved in the production of sexually abusive material, or being made to watch sexual activities. 
• stalking and grooming.