If you asked them, most people would tell you they think child sexual abuse is wrong. Most people would also tell you they have experienced concern at some time or another about the possibility of child sexual abuse - perhaps they saw a news story that disturbed them, or spoke to a friend who had a personal experience with child sexual abuse, or found themselves a little uncomfortable with someone's behavior around children. But despite such ready admissions that child sexual abuse is a problem that touches their lives, many people would also assure you that there is no child sexual abuse in their own home or in their immediate community. The majority of the population believes that child sexual abuse is a terrible crime that happens to someone else, somewhere else. And they hope that it stays that way -- someone else's problem.

But child sexual abuse is everyone's problem. Given the statistics, each of us knows someone whose life has been directly impacted by child sexual abuse. Many people have friends and colleagues who are survivors of child sexual abuse but may not have ever discussed the issue. And many people have friends and colleagues who are offenders of child sexual abuse but do not disclose this fact. Both survivors and offenders are every-day people you know, live near, and work with. Because of the silencing and shame that surrounds child sexual abuse, frequently neither survivors nor offenders disclose their experience to those around them. Child sexual abuse continues at an enormous cost to society, not only in terms of public health but also in terms of personal relationship. To address and prevent child sexual abuse we must each develop our ability to face it and respond to it effectively.

[5] << First | [6] < Previous | [7] Contents | Next | Last
[8] Single-Page Format

[1]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_question_121.html
[2]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_question_129.html
[3]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_category_103.html
[4]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_category_singlepage_103.html
[5]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_question_121.html
[6]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_question_129.html
[7]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_category_103.html
[8]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/faq_category_singlepage_103.html

Copyright © 2000-2008 by The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault