PDF - Child sexual abuse in Europe (2003)

Child sexual abuse and exploitation are significant problems in Europe today and it is estimated that between 10% and 20% of children are sexually assaulted during their childhood. There are many forms of abuse including incest, prostitution, pornography, date rape, peer sexual violence and institutional sexual abuse, and all are considered abnormal sexual behaviour. Since the 1996 Stockholm World Congress considerable progress has been made in developing measures to combat the sexual abuse and exploitation of children but there is still a long way to go, particularly because the crime usually happens in private and victims are often threatened or sworn to secrecy. Child sexual abuse in Europe offers a pan-European perspective on the issue, drawing on the rapidly growing evidence base and current policy. Individual country case studies highlight the difficulties facing Germany, Poland, Romania and the UK and key issues facing all countries are discussed. What known treatments are there to help prevent perpetrators from reoffending? How are cases dealt with in comparative legal processes? How can children and their families best be helped therapeutically? All of these questions are addressed by the European researchers and practitioners who have contributed to this book, which will be of interest to parents, teachers, social workers and all those who are interested in seeing how children's rights can be protected.