The Facts about Child Sexual Abuse are Shocking

• 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 5-7 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 7 victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement agencies          are under age 6.  The actual number of victims in this age group is unknown because many are never reported to authorities.  
• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur in children ages 17 and under.
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.

Child Sexual Abuse is Closer than You Think

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• 90% of victims know their abusers
• 30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
• Another 50% are abused by someone outside the family whom they know and trust.               
• Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know.
• Only 10% are abused by strangers.  

Children Often Don't Tell if They are Being Abused

• Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.  
• Young victims may not realize what has happened is sexual abuse. They can be easily tricked by abusers to think sexual abuse is "okay"; that it is a game or a way of expressing love.
• Children are often bribed, tricked or threatened to keep abuse a secret.
• Young children rarely lie about sexual abuse. Only 1-4% of sexual abuse reports are false.  Most false reports are made by adults.  Less then 1% of false reports are made by children.

Sexual Abuse Affects Innocent Children from Every Racial and Socioeconomic Background.