Child sexual abuse can happen once or continue for years. It can happen to any child, of any age and from any background. Children can be abused by members of their own family or by others, and sexual abuse can be perpetrated by men or women.
Child sexual abuse ALWAYS involves an adult or older child using their power over a child – it is NEVER a child’s fault that they have been sexually abused.
Adult survivors of child sexual abuse who contributed to the design of this campaign told us that child sexual abuse not only harms children at the time of the abuse, but can result in lifelong problems and rob victims of a better future.
In our ongoing What If You’re Right? campaign, child sexual abuse survivors, Child Protection Scotland and Barnardo’s Scotland are encouraging adults to really look, really listen and notice changes in a child’s behaviour. Don’t ignore it when your gut tells you something is wrong, take action to get help for that child.
