Sexual abuse most commonly involves exploitation of a child for sexual gratification.

The abuser may be an adult or an older child or adolescent, and the abuse may include forcing a child to engage in sexual activities, asking or pressuring the child to do so (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, rubbing the genitals against the child, physical contact with the child’s genitals, viewing of the child’s genitalia without physical contact, or using a child to produce child pornography.  Selling the sexual services of a child is also sexual abuse.

Do you suspect your child is being abused? Click here to see what to do next.
Do you suspect someone else’s child is being abused? Click here to see how to help.

Return to Signs of Abuse.