Breaking the silence

Home: Survivors: Incest & Child Abuse: It happened to me

To overcome the secrecy surrounding child sexual abuse it is essential that we not only encourage children to speak up, but also ensure that adults are listening when children tell of their experiences.

These survivors feel that the increasingly open discussion about sex and sexual abuse in our society has been a positive step. They felt it may be possible to direct specific messages to children to overcome fears, threats and feelings of blame which otherwise lead them to suffer in silence for years. Some survivors suggested that as well as being educated to tell someone about the abuse, children could be taught to say no to the abuser. It was felt, however, that it is very difficult for a child to say no to an adult in a position of power and authority.

Sponsor

Department of Human Services

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 21 May 2010