Sexual abuse involving minors is a profound and multifaceted concern, with far-reaching consequences for a child's holistic welfare and growth. Those who undergo such abuse frequently grapple with psychological and emotional challenges like shame, trauma, depression, anxiety, or behavioral issues. Additionally, these experiences may cultivate a sense of mistrust toward adults, including family members, caregivers, or educators.

Are there identifiable indicators that can help detect when children have been subjected to sexual abuse?

Types of child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse occurs when adults or older children involve children in various sexual activities. To identify the signs of child sexual abuse, it's important to understand the types of sexual abuse that children may encounter. There are two primary types of child sexual abuse, which are:

Sexual harassment involving sexual contact

Sexual abuse involving sexual contact means that there is direct physical touching or sexual activity that has been experienced by children, such as:

• Touching a child's intimate parts or body in a sexual way
• Encouraging or forcing a child to masturbate or touch themselves sexually
• Performing oral sex on a child or asking a child to perform oral sex
• Inserting a penis, finger, or other object into a child's vagina or anus

Sexual harassment without sexual contact

Sexual harassment does not always have to be physical contact. Abuse can also occur when there is no physical touch or direct sexual contact, for example:

• Showing a child their genitals or forcing a child to show their genitals
• Peeking at a child when going to the toilet, bathing or undressing, or encouraging a child to peek at other children or people
• Making sexual comments to children or sexual comments about children
• Forcing a child to make or send a video of themselves or another child with no clothes on, partially dressed or wearing only underwear.

Signs of sexual abuse in a child

Recognizing signs of sexual abuse in children is not always easy. Here are some things that can help you recognize possible signs of child abuse, including:

• Playing with toys or other children in inappropriate or sexual ways
• Exhibiting sexual knowledge beyond their age
• Exhibiting persistent sexual themes in their play or daily activities
• Hinting at sexual activity through actions or words
• Masturbates more than is appropriate given their age, stage of life and development
• Starts wetting the bed again

What to do when a child is sexually abused?

Sexual abuse endured by children is never their responsibility, and parents should handle such situations with sensitivity, avoiding blame or scolding the child. Maintaining open communication with the child is crucial to ensure they feel safe and unafraid when confiding in you.

However, sexual abuse is a grave offense. If you notice signs of sexual abuse or if your child discloses such abuse, you can take the following steps:

1. Seek professional assistance from doctors, psychologists, and authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the perpetrator faces appropriate consequences.
2. Engage with the community to prevent and mitigate the risk of such crimes recurring.
3. Arrange for the child to receive counseling or therapy to help them navigate and recover from the trauma, restoring their psychological well-being.
4. Contact other professionals for additional support and guidance in effectively managing the situation.

The professional resources listed below are available to help you:

LBH APIK Jakarta
+628138882669

SAPA Service Kemenpppa
129

SEJIWA himpsi.or.id
119

Please seek a doctor through the health consultation services available on the AI Care application, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Play Store.

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