Sexual abuse is not so much about sex. It is much more about power - and the abuse of power.
Sexual abuse means the involvement of children and adolescents in sexual acts with any person bigger or older - an adult, for example - in which that child or adolescent is used for sexual gratification and in which they simply have no choice; they are just too small and too vulnerable to resist.
The damage done is real. The damage is physical. The damage is mental. The damage is more widespread than most people imagine. The damage is deeper than most victims dare to admit. Sexual abuse breaks families. It destroys lives.
The awful repercussions of sexual abuse include:
a continuing cycle of abuse - wherein the pattern of abuse is repeated generation after generation.
There is a great weight of guilt and a terrible stigma attached to sexual abuse. It's not something people talk about. They can't talk about it.
Victims can't discuss the cause of their distress with family or friends.
It's not something they can easily tell their GP.
To many it seems there is simply no one to tell - and nowhere to turn. And for children the problem of 'telling' is far worse.
The damage is untold.