You are here
Sexual violence and abuse
Sexual violence occurs everywhere in society – in the home, in communities, in schools and work places, in public spheres and in institutions.
Sexual violence is commonly understood as one or several of the following actions: rape, incest, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, forced prostitution, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual slavery, child abuse images, grooming for sexual purposes and trafficking for sexual exploitation. Also child marriage goes under this definition. Sexual violence is a form of gender-based violence which refers to violence that targets individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. It has been widely acknowledged that the majority of persons affected by gender-based violence are women and girls.
Sexual violence and gender-based violence has also become very common in conflicts and emergencies like natural disasters and their aftermath. It is perpetrated against girls and boys when there is no rule of law and is exacerbated by a culture of impunity. In some cases, sexual violence has been used as a tactic of war designed to humiliate and exterminate a whole population or ethnic group, force them to displace or simply to destroy their social fabric. Unfortunately, sexual violence and abuse is also quite common after the major crisis is finished. When in relief camps it is easy for people to abuse their power and ask for sexual favours in exchange for basic necessities.
The effects of sexual abuse are devastating. Survivors are vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies, psychological trauma, to the spread of HIV and AIDS, and other diseases. It can tear families and communities apart and increase maternal and child mortality rates. Girls and boys who report sexual violence are often not listened to or are even blamed for the violence they experience. Though the majority of children affected are girls, boys are also sexually abused and exploited. Girls and boys are more vulnerable to sexual violence due to gender discrimination, traditional cultural practices, perceptions of masculinity, and unequal power relations between adults and children.
Children face sexual exploitation by people who have an emotional or professional relationship with the child and who exploit their position of trust and power. Children are also sexually exploited by abusers or third parties with commercial or other exploitative interests.
In ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, states have committed themselves to protecting all children under the age of 18 from all forms of sexual violence.
Save the Children’s work to end sexual violence includes provision of age and gender-sensitive response services for girls and boys, advocacy work addressing national laws and policies, promoting online safety and prevent child marriages and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM). Since gender norms perpetuates sexual and gender based violence it is important to challenge these, and to work separately with boys and men, alongside girls and women.
-
Reintegration of Children Born of Wartime Rape
Children born of wartime rape, and their mothers, are often stigmatised by their own communities, due to their associations with political, ethnic or religious enemies. Their identity and sense of belonging are contested, which creates dangers for their p
-
Caring for Boys Affected by Sexual Violence
This initial scoping study into sexual violence affecting boys sought to understand the existing knowledge base on the drivers of sexual violence affecting boys, and the existing intervention practice in this area. It is the first stage of a wider project
-
Young Invisible Enslaved: 2018 report on children victims of trafficking and labour exploitation in Italy
Child trafficking is one of the great tragedies of our time; it is widespread all over the world. Italy, like the rest of Europe, is not immune to it. The most devastating violations are against children, girls and adolescents fleeing from countries burde
-
Responding to Children and Adolescents Who Have Been Sexually Abused: WHO clinical guidelines
A study from 2011 estimates that 18% of girls and 8% of boys worldwide have experienced sexual abuse. This constitutes a major public health problem. Health providers, in many cases, are the first line of response for victims of sexual violence. It is cru
-
Kvinders Vold og Seksuelle Overgreb mod Børn: Om udbredelse, myter og dilemmaer
Violence and sexual abuses perpetrated by women against children are more frequent than we like to speak of or think. There is a tremendous taboo surrounding the problem, which has a severe consequence for children who fall subject to this type of abuse.
-
Best Practice Guide: Inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms
Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers and other actors engaged in assisting vulnerable populations directly contradicts the principles upon which humanitarian action is based. Despite the contradiction to the core values, this abuse of aut
-
Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
In order to make communication with and between children, parents, governmental officials, professionals and volunteers working with or for children as effective and respectful as possible, ECPAT established an Interagency Working Group for the drafting o
-
Is it really that bad? An anthology of online sexual abuse of children and young people
Save the Children Denmark has been continuously working on the issue of online child sexual abuse. Since setting up a hotline for the reporting of online images of child sexual abuse in 2001, Save the Children Denmark has published a books and thematic bo
-
Respect! My Body!: A handbook for grown-ups on how to talk with children about body boundaries and sexual abuse
Some parents feel confident dealing with more concrete issues like teaching their children the values of right and wrong- but what happens when you want to talk openly with young children about their own bodies, sexuality and boundaries? How do you teach
-
Webcam Child Sex Tourism, Becoming Sweetie: a novel approach to stopping the global rise of Webcam Child Sex Tourism
Terre des Hommes Netherlands embarks on an investigation of a relatively new form of online child sexual exploitation known as “webcam child sex tourism” (WCST). WCST takes place when adults pay or offer other rewards in order to direct and view live stre
-
Surf Safely
It is estimated that every fourth girl and every sixth boy in the North West Balkans are exposed to sexual abuse. This is the story of Save the Children’s six-year effort to keep children safe in the North West Balkans. Save the Children has contacted the
-
Mellan Stolarna, Episode 9, Stopp Min Kropp
This episode of the podcast “Mellan Stolarna” deals with the issue of sexual assault of children. Because it is a taboo subject, many decide not to talk about it. Many who children who experienced sexual assault say, “nobody asked me.” Psychologists at Sa