Sexual Child Abuse
Dear Priscilla Bennett Friends,
Sexual Child Abuse refers to the involvement of a child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator. It includes contact for sexual purposes, molestation, statutory rape, prostitution, pornography, incest, or other sexually exploitative activities.
Children living through abuse and violence unnecessarily suffer the negative effects of this trauma for the rest of their lives.
Here are some of the sexual abuse statistics:
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old.
Over 65,000 children were sexually abused in 2016.
8.6% of reported child abuse cases were sexual abuse.
34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members.
96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults.
Caregiver alcohol or drug abuse is a child abuse risk factor putting kids at much higher risk for being abused.
325,000 children are at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation each year.
The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12 to 14 years old, and the average age for boys is 11 to 13 years old.
In my novel SOMETHING TO BE BRAVE FOR, Katie experiences child abuse from her parents, and her daughter, Rose, experiences child abuse from her father, Claude. Katie decides to leave Claude with Rose to start a new life free from abuse.
Let’s protect our children and take good care of yourselves,
PRISCILLA BENNETT XOXO