Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse is any contact or non-contact sexual activity that happens without consent or understanding, or with forced consent.
If you have been sexually abused or if you are supporting a child, young person or adult who has experienced sexual abuse, you can find information here about Sexual Abuse Referral Centre (SARC) services in Gwent and other parts of Wales: Sexual Violence - Gwent Safeguarding
SARC services are confidential, however staff have a legal duty to share information with Police or Social Services if a child, young person or adult is considered to be at risk of significant harm.
Any sexual behaviour that makes an individual feel uncomfortable, afraid or intimidated could fall into the category of sexual abuse. If sexual abuse is happening in exchange for something – affection, food, drugs, shelter, protection or money it is considered sexual exploitation.
Sexual abuse and sexual violence (Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) ACT 2015 (legislation.gov.uk) involves both contact and non-contact forms of abuse and harm including:
- Rape, attempted rape, groping or forced kissing
- Sexual harassment
- Indecent exposure
- Voyeurism
- Stalking
- Grooming
- Involvement in pornography without consent
- Image based sexual abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Abuse of power to gain sexual satisfaction
- Non-contact abuse (looking, photography, indecent exposure and harassment)
Possible indicators of sexual abuse
- Emotional distress
- Difficulty in walking or sitting
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Pain or itching in genital area
- Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vagina or anal area
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Semen staining on clothing
- Torn penile frenulum
- Tissue tearing
- Mood changes
- Over-affectionate displays
- Incestuous relationships
- Inappropriate physical contact in terms of amount of contact or lack of contact
- Change in usual behaviour
- Feeling of guilt or shame
- Withdrawal
- Untypical changes, ie, bedwetting, aggressiveness, self injury
- Overt sexual behaviour/language by the person
- Love bites
- Disturbed sleep pattern
- Bruising on the inner thighs
- Pregnancy