Sunday, September 12, 2010
Child Sexual Abuse – The Silent Epidemic
As a twenty year veteran of the U.S. Army, law enforcement and foster care I assure you that at no time in the history of our world are the children you love more susceptible to child sexual abuse. Oh yes, we hear regularly of “stranger danger” when a child is abducted and often killed by a pedophile. However, the greatest risk our children face is not strangers. In the greatest majority of the case the sex offender is well know and often liked by the child and the child’s family. Child sexual abuse is the “silent epidemic.”
Consider these facts.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
• Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
• 59% gain sexual access to their victims through, seduction or enticement.
• The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of who do not report the offense.
• About 60% of the male survivors sampled report at least one of their perpetrators to be female.
Cyber Predators.
No only could the offender be someone you know. The predator could be in "cyberspace." A growing problem is cyber child predators. These individuals often pose as children or teens to begin online dialogues with victims. They are shrewd, intelligent and persistent. With older youth they may use extortion or threats.
Don’t fall into a false sense of security. Your children may be at risk right now. Even with decades of knowledge related to child predators two of my own daughters were preyed upon.
Fortunately because of sound relationship with our children my wife and I were told that someone had gain access to both their college and personal email accounts. The local police and FBI were contacted and an investigation launched. Even though there was many dozens of victims my daughters were the first to report the crime. The majority of the parents were not even aware that their teens had been victims until contacted by the FBI and other law enforcement authorities after the seizure of the perpetrators computer.
See this online FBI Press Release for details.
http://birmingham.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/bh080508.htm
Families, be vigilant in protecting your children. If I can help let me know.
Consider these facts.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
• Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
• 59% gain sexual access to their victims through, seduction or enticement.
• The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of who do not report the offense.
• About 60% of the male survivors sampled report at least one of their perpetrators to be female.
Cyber Predators.
No only could the offender be someone you know. The predator could be in "cyberspace." A growing problem is cyber child predators. These individuals often pose as children or teens to begin online dialogues with victims. They are shrewd, intelligent and persistent. With older youth they may use extortion or threats.
Don’t fall into a false sense of security. Your children may be at risk right now. Even with decades of knowledge related to child predators two of my own daughters were preyed upon.
Fortunately because of sound relationship with our children my wife and I were told that someone had gain access to both their college and personal email accounts. The local police and FBI were contacted and an investigation launched. Even though there was many dozens of victims my daughters were the first to report the crime. The majority of the parents were not even aware that their teens had been victims until contacted by the FBI and other law enforcement authorities after the seizure of the perpetrators computer.
See this online FBI Press Release for details.
http://birmingham.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/bh080508.htm
Families, be vigilant in protecting your children. If I can help let me know.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Your feedback, insight and stories about the family are appreciated.