Here’s a link to the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, a publication of the Public Health Agency of Canada:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/html/nfntsxagrsex_e.html
The article contains some frightening facts:
- The most extensive study of child sexual abuse in Canada was conducted by the Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children and Youths. Its report indicates that, among adult Canadians, 53 percent of women and 31 percent of men were sexually abused when they were children.
- Most offenders are not strangers to their victims. In most cases, they are well known to their victims.
- Some offenders have abused more than 70 children before any of the victims disclosed the abuse. In cases in which one offender has abused a large number of victims, the abused children are more likely to be male.
The article contains good advice about abuse prevention, support services as well as recommended reading.