Further Information about Child Abuse

  • In the vast majority of child sexual abuse cases the victim knows the offender. They may be related to the victim in some way or associated with the victim’s family in some way
  • The offender is usually male. This has been confirmed by every major study
  • Offenders are usually heterosexual
  • The majority of adult sex offenders report beginning their offence patterns in adolescence
  • The sexual abuse will usually continue until someone stops it. Re-offending rates for sex offenders are high
  • Boys and girls of any age can be sexually abused
  • Children and young people must never be assumed to be lying about a claim of sexual abuse - statistics demonstrate that 98% of children tell the truth about abuse
  • Offenders practise deceit and are very adept at disguising their actions
  • Knowing about sexual abuse helps keep children and young people safe and protects them from it. When adults talk openly about sexual abuse, tell them what to do if they are threatened and give them permission to tell someone who can help, then offenders lose some of their power over the child
  • Offenders work actively to keep the abuse secret
  • Child sexual abusers prey on children or young people and the people around them. They actively manipulate those who care for the child or young person to make them more vulnerable
  • Offenders manipulate the system and can make themselves appear to be very respectable
  • Some offenders work to undermine the child or young person’s reputation so that they won’t be believed
  • Increasingly, sexual offending against children is happening via the use of digital communications with children using smart phones and tablet devices, even via the use of apps and pop-up ads on children's websites. Offenders pose as celebrities or other children and convince and coerce children into performing sexual acts online. These offenders cynically exploit children's innocence and ignorance about sex.
  • Offenders recruit vulnerable children or young people and use coercion to prepare them for abuse.

Myths about child abuse

  • Child abuse is rare   In reality and sadly, child abuse is quite common. In terms of sexual abuse of children, statistics provided by Victoria Police to the GAV in October 2015 are that: These statistics are across the whole community and there is no research or statistics to suggest that churches will be any different. Many sex offenders remain entirely unknown to the criminal justice system and may never be arrested or charged. " One in three girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused in some way before the age of 18 years." 
  • People lie about child abuse to gain attention and sympathy   In fact, it is far more common for people to deny they were abused than to claim they suffered abuse when they had not. In terms of sexual abuse, the vast majority of sufferers of sexual abuse as children do not come forward to police or speak up about it due to the pain and difficulty of doing so. Sadly, most people feel they will not be believed. Court records also show it is very rare for people to fabricate accusations of abuse.  Statistics show that 98% of children tell the truth when they disclose abuse.
  • Memories of childhood abuse are "false memories"   Traumatic amnesia is well-documented for war veterans and victims of natural or man-made disasters. Suppressed or traumatic memories of childhood abuse often manifest in adulthood as flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive thoughts. When survivors do choose to speak up about the abuse the process of doing so often allows or forces them to think of and remember, for the first time in many years, deeply traumatic experiences in their lives.
  • Children grow out of bad childhood experiences   Most adults continue to be deeply affected by childhood abuse. Survivors need lots of support and care to recover and lead healthy lives.
  • Christians don't abuse children   There are no research or statistics to suggest that Christians and church goers do not abuse children. Sadly, the sheer number of historical child sexual abuse survivors and known child sex offenders in churches across the globe demonstrates this.
  • Children are likely to make up stories of abuse   Studies and research across the globe demonstrate that children can readily distinguish between fantasy and reality. Social workers, therapists and specialist law enforcement officers are trained to detect fabricated reports. Further, there are known patterns of behaviour and attitudes of offenders against children and these patterns have been well-documented via both criminal justice systems and academic researchers across the globe. When children speak about abuse, or when adults speak about suffering childhood abuse there are "hallmarks" and common behaviours and traits displayed by people who abuse children and these are well-established.
  • Children encourage sexual abuse by acting seductively   Any incident of child sexual abuse is entirely the adult's responsibility. The adult is in the position of power in the relationship and is responsible at law for any sexual conduct with children.