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Child sexual abuse more common than many think

The problem of child sexual abuse may be more prevalent than the public realizes, with the actual number of victims estimated at approximately 20,000 per year, though only around 3,000 cases are reported, the non-profit Garden of Hope Foundation said yesterday.

The estimate is based on the belief that sexual abuse cases tend to be under-reported at a ratio of seven to one, said Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容), CEO of the foundation dedicated to ending sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and domestic violence.

Criminal Investigation Bureau statistics show that police received more than 3,000 reports of sexual assault in 2006 and more than 4,000 reports last year, with 59 percent of the victims under age 18.

However, the number of sexual assaults reported to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention centers around the country are markedly higher, with 4,900 cases reported in 2005, 2,786 of which involved a victim under 18. In 2006, the total number increased to 5,638, of which 3,276 involved minors. The number was even higher last year, with 3,727 of the total of 6,530 cases reported involving a minor.

The results of an online survey conducted between July 24 and July 29 and released yesterday by the foundation showed that 87 percent of respondents had no idea that a child sexual abuse case could be occurring as frequently as once every 27 minutes in the country.

The survey of 1,075 people aged 16 and older found that 76 percent of the respondents said they would be willing to help sexually abused children, but nearly 50 percent did not know who they could turn to or what services are provided by authorities.

Approximately 70 percent of the respondents said they would tend not to encourage sexually abused children to ask for help for fear that the children might be hurt a second time in the process.

Meanwhile, 35 percent of the respondents expressed doubt as to whether asking the authorities for help would do any good.

Chi said that the public’s neglect of the problem is a major barrier impeding the victims’ possible rehabilitation from their trauma.

What makes matters worse is that victims have even less access to assistance in the event of incest, she said, adding that the number of survey respondents supporting private mediation increased by 40 percent if the abuser is a member of the family.

Chi urged the public to be mindful of the victims’ need for professional counseling to overcome trauma and to report cases of possible child sexual abuse to authorities.
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