Nadezda Ljubojev, L.L.D, Assistant Professor

Nadezda Ljubojev, L.L.D, Assistant Professor Faculty of Legal and Business Study Novi Sad

ABSTRACT

Today, child sexual abuse is considered a great problem in every society, and this thesis is supported by statistical figures. In this paper, the attention was given to child sexual abuse in the family, with intention to examine it comprehensively by using integrative approach, which seems to be the most appropriate method for the complex phenomenon. In the paper are determined basic concepts of child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is defined in different ways in literature, but the author gives essential elements for legal determination of this concept. Child sexual abuse is defined as the use of child to satisfy the sexual needs of parents, with or without the use of force. Child sexual abuse means usually many acts over many years and continues as permanent trauma in the lives of victims. Victims are both boys and girls, and their abuser are both women and men. Child sexual abuse victims have life-long psychological problems. Guilt feelings are typical for sexual abuse victims, lasting from childhood to old age, throughout their lives. Self-inflicted injuries and suicides are typical manifestations of guilt feelings.