According to the law, sexual abuse is any kind of sexual contact forced on a child or young person by someone who is significantly older, usually an adult. Sexual abuse might involve sexual touching of a child, or inviting a child to touch an adult in a sexual way.

Most often the person who sexually abuses a child or young person is in a position of trust and authority over the victim. Studies show that often the person who sexually abuses a child is a family member – like a step father, uncle, or older brother – or someone else known to the child like a family friend, a neighbour or a teacher.

Sexual abuse of children is a betrayal of trust and an abuse of power. Sexual abuse is a crime. A person who was sexually abused as a child can make a police report at any time, even if the abuse happened many years ago.