Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Sexual Abuse Referral Centre (SARC) Services provide support to children and adults who have been sexually abused. 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.

You can find information here about SARC services in Gwent and other parts of Wales.

For signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, please visit the NSPCC website.

Child sexual exploitation

A person under 18 is sexually exploited when they are coerced into sexual activities by one or more person(s) who have deliberately targeted their youth and inexperience in order to exercise power over them

National action plan preventing and responding to child sexual abuse

The Plan sets out the actions the Welsh Government will take to prevent Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), to protect children from CSA and to support children who are sexually abused

Stop it Now Wales child sexual abuse prevention - it's time we talked about it' campaign

Stop It Now! Wales is a child sexual abuse prevention project that works across the country to ensure that parents, carers and professionals are as best placed as they can be to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation