Prevent Child Abuse New York (n.d.) defines sexual abuse as occurring when a parent or caretaker “commits a sexual offense against a child or allows a sexual offense to be committed, such as rape, sodomy, engaging a child in sexual activity, engaging a child in, or promoting a child’s sexual performance.” Sexual abuse is not limited to sexual contact or behavior that is meant to sexually arouse the abuser. In addition to having sex with a child, sexual abuse includes the following (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2019): ● Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor. ● Fondling. ● Intercourse. ● Masturbation in the presence of a minor or forcing the minor to masturbate. ● Obscene phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction. ● Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of children. ● Sex of any kind with a minor—vaginal, oral, or anal. ● Sex trafficking. ● Any other sexual conduct that is harmful to a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare. Most abusers are someone the child or family knows (up to 93%). The abuser does not need to be an adult, older sibling or playmate, family member, teacher, coach or instructor, caretaker, or the parent of another child. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (2019), Sex trafficking In 2016, New York State published an FAQ document, Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act P.L. 113-183 (https:// ocfs.ny.gov/main/sppd/docs/Preventing-Sex- Trafficking-and-Strengthening-Families-Act-FAQ. pdf), which is a resource for New York State professionals in relation to a federal law enacted in 2014: “To prevent and address sex trafficking of children in foster care, to extend and improve adoption incentives, and to improve international child support recovery" (https:// www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ183/PLAW- 113publ183.pdf). According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (n.d.), sex trafficking
“Child sexual abuse is the result of abusive behavior that takes advantage of a child’s vulnerability and is in no way related to the sexual orientation of the abusive person.” Following are signs and symptoms of sexual abuse (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2019): ● Displaying knowledge of or interest in sexual activities or behaviors that are not appropriate for the child’s age. ● Developing STDs. ● Having torn, stained, or bloody clothing. ● Complaining of pain or itching in the genital or anal area. ● Difficulty walking, sitting, or standing. ● Reporting sexual abuse, which is often done indirectly; for example, a child may draw a picture that suggests sexual activity, or a child may make vague statements such as, “Mommy’s boyfriend won’t let me sleep at night.” ● Pregnancy. The following are behavioral indicators of sexual abuse (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 2019): ● Regression to earlier developmental stages. ● Reluctance or refusal to change clothes or participate in gym classes. ● Withdrawal from family and friends. ● Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behaviors. is “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, or advertising of a minor child for the purpose of a commercial sex act, which involves the exchange of anything of value—such as money, drugs, or a place to stay—for sexual activity.” The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that of the 23,000 runaways in 2018, one in seven were likely victims of child sex trafficking, with an average age of 15 years. The following are general indicators that a victim of child trafficking (for both sex and labor) displays, taken directly from Red Flags of CSEC and Child Trafficking (New York State, Office of Children and Family Services, n.d.b):
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