As a therapist, on a regular basis I work with people who have been sexually abused. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, 1 in 3 females and 1 in 6 males are sexually abused in some way before the age of 18 in Australia. And the most vulnerable ages for children to be exposed to sexual assault appears to be ages from 3 to 8. According to statistical data from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, 36% of girls and 29% of boys have suffered child sexual abuse and up to 46% girls and 20% of boys have experience sexual coercion worldwide.

Although many children that have experienced sexual abuse show behavioral/emotional changes, other children don’t show any sings. Therefore, it is not only critical to detect but it is very important to spread awareness and work on the prevention and openly and transparently communicate with children about sexuality. It is important to teach children about their body and their healthy boundaries and to encourage open communication about their sexual well-being. And if we do so, we will be able to help children to become healthy, happy and fulfilled adults who follow their passion and their dreams, instead the bitter and self-criticized adults who struggle with intimate relationships within and with others.