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MOTHER'S ADVOCATE Supporting: Non abusing Mothers and Families of Sexually abused childen in the UK. Help Lines: 01723 892607 Mobile: 07954183996
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Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "Tell" and are NOT BELIEVED are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social and physical problems. Often lasting into adulthood, therefore costing the National Health Service millions of pounds every year. |
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Any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors where one exerts power over the other. Forcing, Coercing or Persuading a child to engage in ANY type of sexual act. This of course includes sexual contact. It also includes non contact acts as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography voyeurism and communication in any sexual manner. Grooming a child with the intentions of committing a sex act or inducing others to commit a sexual act on a child. This also include over the Internet or over the telephone. Apart from being an agonizing traumatic experience for its victims. IT IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LAW. |
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Understand that abusers often become friendly with potential victims and their families. They will enjoy family activities,gaining trust within the family. Therefore the family may leave the child alone with that person. Think carefully about the safety of your child especially in one to one situations. Choose group situations where possible. Think carefully about safety of situations eg: where an older youth may have access to young children. Make sure multiple adults are present who can supervise. Set an example by personally avoiding one adult one childsituations other than your own children. Monitor your childs internet use. Offenders ust the internet to lure children into physical contact. Have parental controls on your computer so you can monitor what your child is doing on line. Teach them never just to add someone in a chat room because they want to be a friend. They may not be who they say they are. BUT ALSO: Try not to scare your childas you want them to have a pleasurable experience on the computer just make sure your children are aware of the dangers! If you take your child to a youth club, Sports club, any kind of club even a church group? Ask what child protection proceedures they have in place? Also any potential sex offenders will notice you are paying attention. |
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Yet more than 90% of sexual abuse cases the child and the childs family know and trust the abuser. The aftermath to children and their families begins almost immediately after the abuse and is a direct source of a number of problems, here in the Uk. A large majority of survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use. A large majority of survivors have suicidal thoughts and more than 20% attempt suicide on more than one occassion. Young girls who have been sexually abused sometimes develop eating disorders. A lot of teen pregnancies in the UK are preceded by experiences of rape or attempted rape. Both male and female children who have been sexually abused often engage in Prostitution. A large majority of abused children end up in our jails often committing crimes to ease the pain of the past and of being forgotten and let down by society. |
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Experts estimate that 1in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthdays. This is not a myth even though we would like it to be? This means that in any classroom in the Uk full of children There are children who are silently suffering the burden of sexual abuse. 1 in 5 children are sexuallysolicited whilst on the Internet. Nearly 70% of all sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children aged 17 and under. The median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old. Approximately 20% of sexually abused children are under 8 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object or forcibly fondled are under the age of 8. Approximately 70% of child sex offenders have between 1-9 victims 20-25% have 10-40 victims.Yours child is not special they are just an object to be abused.
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The majority of child victims never report abuse. |
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"It can't happen to my child!" "I would know if someone was sexually abusing them!" |
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Reducing the RISK protect your children. |
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What is Child Sexual Abuse? |
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Some Statiscics |
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The abuser shames the child and points out that the child must have wanted it? because they let them do it! The abuser tells the child that his/her parents would be really angry at the child if they found out what they had done. The abuser often manipulates or tries to confuse the child about what is right and wrong behaviour. The abuser sometimes may even threaten the child or a family member. Some children don't tell because they are ashamed of what they have done. Children are afraid of disappointing their parents. Some children are too yound to understand what is happening to them. Many abusers tell the child it is a game and its ok. Many abusers tell the child it's a secret and they must not tell anyone or they may be taken away and never see their parents again. Many tell the child they love them and this is what you do when you love someone. |
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"My child tells me everything and they would tell me if someone was sexually abusing them." |
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Some children DO tell of sexual abuse and often tell a trusted adult other than their parents. For this reason talking about sexual abuse is important and training people about sexual abuse is important. Children may only tell parts of what has happened. They may even tell you that it has happened to another child they know to gauge your reaction first. Some children shut down completely and refuse to tell any more if you respond negatively or show too much emotion. |
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know how children communicate with adults! |
| MOTHER'S ADVOCATE |