Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse (pronunciation: /tʃaɪld sɛkʃuːəl əˈbjuːs/) is a form of Child Abuse that involves an adult or older adolescent engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Etymology

The term "Child Sexual Abuse" is derived from the words "child" (from Old English cild, meaning a young person), "sexual" (from Late Latin sexualis, pertaining to sex), and "abuse" (from Latin abusus, meaning misuse or improper use).

Definition

Child Sexual Abuse is defined as the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.

Related Terms

• Child Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Child Neglect
• Child Exploitation
• Child Trafficking
• Pedophilia

See Also

• Child Protection
• Child Rights
• Child Welfare
• Childhood Trauma

References

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