What is Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation?
Child sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening, including: physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts; non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE):
- Is a form of sexual abuse that can include sex or any form of sexual activity with a child; the production of indecent images and/or any other indecent material involving children.
- Involves a child i.e. a person under 18 years old.
- Involves some form of exchange. This can include the giving or withdrawal of something; such as the withdrawal of violence or threats to abuse another person. There may be a facilitator who receives something in addition to or instead of the child who is exploited. Children may not recognise the exploitative nature of the relationship or exchange. Children may feel that they have given consent.
Welsh Government have published a National Action Plan for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse, which all Regional Safeguarding Boards are required to deliver and report against in the years 2020 to 2022. The Plan can be found below.
Welsh Government Action Plan
National Action Plan Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse
Update (Nov 2022) Final Report on Delivery of Actions under the Plan
July 2021 National Update
July 2021 National Resource List
CYSUR Resources
Harmful Sexual Behaviour 7 Minute Briefing
Organisation Websites
Developments and Updates
CSA in 2021/22: Trends in official data
Welsh Government update on Child Sexual Exploitation Policy January 2020
CSE Threat Update from ROCU
The ‘Child sexual abuse prevention – It’s time we talked about it’ campaign
Stop it Now! Wales Partner Pack
Welsh Government ‘Right to be Safe – responding and preventing child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation in Wales’ event
Stop it Now! Wales - Newsletter
Resources to help adults identify and respond to CSA and CSE
Resources from Community of Practice Child Sexual Abuse Event
Multi-agency Practice Principles for responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm
Recognising the Signs of an Unsafe Relationship
Find out if a person has a record for child sexual offences
Keeping children safe in sports
Parents’ and carers’ views on how we can work together to prevent the sexual abuse of disabled children
Helping adults respond to children disclosing abuse
Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool
Resources to help identify and engage young people at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation
Community Care Podcast: Using Family Therapy to Address Intrafamilial CSA
CSA Signs and Indicators Template
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: Guidance for Parents
Sibling sexual abuse and behaviour