Title: Definitions of child abuseTusla - Child and Family Agency
Headings: Definitions of child abuse
Definitions of child abuse
NEGLECT
EMOTIONAL
PHYSICAL
SEXUAL
Neglect
Emotional abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse

Content: The result of this is that the protections in law relating to assault now apply to a child in the same way as they do to an adult. Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for his or her gratification or arousal, or for that of others. It includes the child being involved in sexual acts (masturbation, fondling, oral or penetrative sex) or exposing the child to sexual activity directly or through pornography. Child sexual abuse may cover a wide spectrum of abusive activities. It rarely involves just a single incident and in some instances occurs over a number of years. Child sexual abuse most commonly happens within the family, including older siblings and extended family members. Cases of sexual abuse mainly come to light through disclosure by the child or his or her siblings/friends, from the suspicions of an adult, and/or by physical symptoms. Examples of child sexual abuse include the following: Any sexual act intentionally performed in the presence of a child
An invitation to sexual touching or intentional touching or molesting of a child’s body whether by a person or object for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification
Masturbation in the presence of a child or the involvement of a child in an act of masturbation
Sexual intercourse with a child, whether oral, vaginal or anal
Sexual exploitation of a child, which includes: Inviting, inducing or coercing a child to engage in prostitution or the production of child pornography [for example, exhibition, modelling or posing for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or sexual act, including its recording (on film, videotape or other media) or the manipulation, for those purposes, of an image by computer or other means]
Inviting, coercing or inducing a child to participate in, or to observe, any sexual, indecent or obscene act
Showing sexually explicit material to children, which is often a feature of the ‘grooming’ process by perpetrators of abuse
Exposing a child to inappropriate or abusive material through information and communication technology
Consensual sexual activity involving an adult and an underage person
An Garda Síochána will deal with any criminal aspects of a sexual abuse case under the relevant criminal justice legislation.