Child sexual abuse refers to the use of a child by an adult
for sexual purposes whether or not consent is alleged to have been given. It
includes: acts of exposure; sexual touching; oral, anal or vaginal
penetration; and the exposing of a child to, or involving a child in,
pornography or prostitution.
Any form of direct or indirect sexual contact between a
child and an adult is abusive since it is motivated purely by adult needs
and involves a child who, by virtue of her/his age and position in life, is
unable to give consent.
Sexual activity between children constitutes sexual abuse
when it is between siblings or when it is clear, by difference in
developmental levels, coercion and/or lack of mutuality, that one child is
taking advantage of another." (Child Sexual Abuse Protocol, 3rd Edition,
1995, p.1)*
Further examples of child sexual abuse can include taking
pictures or videos of naked children, making children look at pornographic
pictures or videos of people having sex, showing children a person's
"private parts", making children touch a person's "private parts" in any
way, or making rude/lewd or suggestive sexual comments to a child.