Family Violence Youth Site


It feels wrong


Sexual abuse that happens within a family is family violence. Even if it happens between people who are married - it is a crime.

Child sexual abuse is when an adult, teenager or older child uses a young person for a sexual purpose. The young person may be forced, pressured, bribed or tricked into some sexual activity, including:

  • making you undress in front of them or spying on you while you undress
  • touching or kissing your private parts (areas covered by your bathing suit)
  • making you touch or look at their private parts
  • getting you to perform a sexual act with them or someone else
  • making you watch sexual acts, sexual images or videos
  • photographing or filming you doing something sexual
  • talking to you (or writing to you, including by email) in a sexual way

It’s not OK for anyone to touch you in a way that is wrong and makes you feel uncomfortable – not your parents, your grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters, or any of their friends.

If touching makes you feel uncomfortable, say so. You have a right to protect your body from harm and to decide what feels right and what doesn’t.

When sexual abuse happens, the abuser will often make threats and say that everything must be kept secret or someone will get hurt. The abuser may also make the person feel like they were asking for it. But sexual abuse is never the fault of the person being abused. If this has happened to you or someone you know, find help right away.