Child sexual abuse can leave deep trauma, both physically and emotionally. However, children who are victims of abuse are often afraid to talk about it. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of child sexual abuse and how to respond to them.
Child sexual abuse is any form of sexual contact carried out by adults or older persons on children under the age of 18 years. Not only from outsiders, perpetrators of sexual harassment can come from the closest people, even family members.
Child sexual abuse can occur because the child is coaxed, coerced, or even threatened to do something inappropriate, such as kissing, watching pornography, or having sex.
Signs of a Child Experiencing Sexual Harassment
Signs of child sexual abuse are sometimes difficult for parents to recognize. The reason is that most children who are victims of sexual abuse do not realize or understand that the actions taken by the perpetrators to themselves are something that is not natural.
Not only that, most victims are also afraid to reveal the sexual harassment they experienced, either because they were threatened by the perpetrator or because they thought the abuse was caused by their own fault.
However, there are some signs that a child can show when he is being sexually abused, including:
- Often have bad dreams that make it hard to sleep
- Loss of concentration and difficult to accept lessons
- Difficulty controlling emotions
- Very introverted or withdrawn from the surrounding environment
- Looks sad, anxious, or overly scared
- There is a desire to hurt yourself or even kill yourself
Not only that, the victim can also give certain clues about the sexual harassment she experienced without revealing it directly. For example, children experience tantrums every time they want to visit relatives who are perpetrators of abuse.
Apart from changes in children's behavior and emotions, signs of sexual abuse can also be seen from health complaints experienced by children.
Beware of cuts or bruises that look unnatural in children, especially if they are accompanied by other health problems, such as difficulty urinating, pain when walking or sitting, bleeding from the anus or genitals, and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases.
How to Deal with Child Sexual Harassment
As a parent, you need to know how to deal with child sexual abuse. This is important to do so that children do not get worse and have an impact on their growth and development.
The following are some things you can do for a child who is a victim of sexual abuse:
1. Try to invite the child to talk
Try to get your child to talk to you from heart to heart. When your child begins to talk, try to remain calm and listen carefully to him.
Also, avoid interrupting your child even if you feel angry at the sexual abuser or have difficulty understanding what he or she is talking about. Interrupting a child's words can make him feel less heard, so he is reluctant to talk further.
2. Give enough time to children
Understand that not all children can tell these bad events quickly. If your child isn't ready to talk, give him some time to calm down first so he can open up with you.
3. Give full support
You can support your child by trusting everything he says and reassuring him that what happened was not his fault. Also make it clear that it's the right thing to do to tell you what happened to him.
Also, let your child know that you will always be by his side whenever he needs you. This way, your child will feel more secure and protected by you.
Sexual harassment is an unlawful act. If you suspect a child is a victim of sexual abuse, you need to report the incident to the relevant parties, such as the police and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), so that they can be processed legally.
Sexual abuse of children certainly brings a very deep trauma and can carry over to adulthood. Make sure you always accompany the child so that he still feels safe. You can also take your child to consult a psychologist to get assistance according to their conditions and needs.
