Sexual Abuse

Resources available The Women’s Centre for Change Agencies Located in (WCC) publishes a series Penang that Can Help from WCC of pamphlets to equip you 1. Educational package on Child Sexual PUSAT KESEDARAN WANITA with more knowledge of Police Department Abuse (Be Smart, Be Safe). (2001) WOMEN’S CENTRE FOR CHANGE your rights. • Penang(headquarters) 222 1522 This includes: • Jelutong 282 5922 • A teacher’s guidebook “Teaching • Balik Pulau 866 9222 Children to Be Safe” • Pulau Tikus 228 0422 • A children’s pictorial booklet • Sungai Nibong 643 0222 “Saya dan Suara Kecil Saya” • Ayer Itam 826 8522 • A video tape on the personal • Timur Laut 229 2222 safety program “OK Tak OK” • Butterworth 332 2222 • A user’s guide to the personal • Bukit Mertajam 538 2222 safety program. 2. Working with Rape Survivors: A Hand- Welfare Department book. (2002) Child • KOMTAR 650 5258 3. Staying Safe: A pamphlet on Child • Daerah Timur Laut 226 4531 Sexual Abuse. • Daerah Barat Daya 866 8442 4. Nina and her Secret. (2007) Sexual Abuse • Bukit Mertajam 538 2584 • Butterworth 331 3455 Hospital It can happen to Accident and Emergency Department • Penang General Hospital 222 5333 anyone • Hospital Seberang Jaya 382 7333 • Hospital Balik Pulau 866 9333 Even your own • Hospital Bukit Mertajam 538 3333 • Hospital Sungai Bakap 582 4333 child! Other Organisations • Children’s Protection PUSAT KESEDARAN WANITA Society 829 4046 WOMEN’S CENTRE FOR CHANGE (formerly Women’s Crisis Centre) • Legal Aid Bureau Penang 229 0966 24-D Jalan Jones 10250 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia WOMEN’S CENTRE FOR CHANGE (WCC) Tel: 04-228 0342 (formerly known as Women’s Crisis Centre) Fax: 04-228 5784 E-mail: [email protected] 24-D Jalan Jones, 10250 Penang, Malaysia Website: www.wccpenang.org Tel: 04-228 0342 • Fax: 04-228 5784 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.wccpenang.org What is Child Sexual How Does The Abuse Occur ? How Can I Help ? Abuse Child sexual abuse occurs in the following Behavioural • Stay calm and confident Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a ways: • Clinging behaviour • Believe the child child for the sexual gratification of an adult Non-physical contact • Withdrawal/thumb-sucking • Comfort and reassure the child or a juvenile. If a child is subjected to sexual • verbal stimulation • Bed-wetting inappropriate for age • Protect the child from further abuse intercourse by a family member, it is called • obscene phone calls • Truancy • Get medical attention for the child im- incest. • exhibitionism • Poor school performance mediately • Report to the Social Welfare What It Is Not • exploitation: e.g. prostitution/ • Running away pornography • Alcohol and drug abuse Department/Police Child sexual abuse should not be confused • Suicide attempts • Say that it is not her fault with physical contact between an adult that Physical contact • Excessive masturbation • Allow expression of feeling are fond or playful expressions of love. • fondling child’s genitals • Seductive behaviour • Listen but do not pressure for informa- Responsible adults limit their physical ex- • making child fondle offender’s • Sexual knowledge and activities tion change with a child, respecting the child genitals inappropriate for age • Do not try to handle the abuser your- and at the same time maintaining a warm, • actual or attempted penetration of self healthy and affectionate relationship. child’s vagina, mouth or anus with Psychological • Get the child to resume a normal life object or with offender’s fingers and/ Depression manifesting in somatic • Continue support and reassurance Scope & Statistics or penis complaints such as: According to Welfare Department statistics, • Headache child sexual abuse made up 31.4% of the How can I tell if a child is • Stomach ache total number of child abuse cases reported abused? • Chest pain in 2001. Approximately 93% of these child Victims of sexual abuse can have the • Fatigue abuse victims were girls and 7% were boys. following signs and symptoms: • Insomnia Police statistics (2006) showed • Fainting spells that 67% of incest victims were below 16 Physical • Tearful • Reddening/itching • Hysteria How Can I Prevent years of age and 49% of incest perpetrators Child Sexual Abuse were biological or step fathers. of genital or anus • Irrational fears • Raising consciousness in the public on Child sexual abuse happens in • Pain or injury of genital/anus • Appetite loss sexual assault all ethnic and religious groups as well as • Pain in passing urine • Lack of concentration • Changing attitudes towards victims of socio-economic levels. • Vaginal/penile discharge • Low self-esteem • Abdominal pains sexual abuse • Teaching children on social and moral Who Abuses values and respect for each other’s body Anyone who is in the position of authority • Eliminating sexism and sex role stere- and has access to children can abuse them. otyping In 90% of reported cases, the offender is • Eliminating the shame and stigma as- someone known to the child e.g. parents, sociated with sexual assaults relatives, neighbours, friends etc..

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