Child abuse is defined as intentional harm inflicted on a child by an adult; it can be physical, psychological, sexual, and even neglectful. In my opinion, the worst kind of abuse is sexual abuse, as it inflicts irreparable harm on a child’s emotions. Child sexual abuse is a subset of child abuse that is characterized by performing sexual acts on, to, or with a minor. Because a minor cannot consent to participating in any kind of sexual activity, when an adult becomes involved in such a way with the child, they are said to have committed the crime of sexual abuse.
This particular crime can have a traumatic impact on children that lasts years, if not their entire life. Most people are mistaken because they believe that if no touching occurred, then the acts (whatever else they may be) cannot be construed as sexual abuse. This is inaccurate; the truth is that all of the following can be considered child sexual abuse: (1) exhibitionism, (2) fondling, (3) intercourse, (4) masturbation in front of a minor, (5) inappropriate calls, texts, or online interactions, (6) sex trafficking, and (7) any other kind of conduct that can cause harm to a child’s welfare, whether it be psychologically (and emotionally) or physically.
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However, this is a topic that is of utmost importance to me because I am an advocate of children’s rights. Children are innocent and powerless, and for this reason, they need people to stand up to protect them. Sadly, in many cases, the abuser is either a family member or a friend of the family who is trusted by the parents. I once read that over 90% of victims that are sexually abused under the age of 18 actually know their abuser personally. The problem is that when they speak up, they are not believed; likewise, many children may not speak up due to the same fear – that they will be called liars and that the abuse will become