2.5.4 Adolescent Survivors

Older people can manipulate young adolescents into a sexual relationship by using money to buy them gifts, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs or by allowing the adolescent to do things that their parents would not let them do in exchange for sexual behaviors.

Many survivors of sexual assault are under the age of 18. The perpetrator is usually someone whom they know. Children and adolescents who experience sexual violence have a greater risk of experiencing it again as adults.

Without appropriate crisis intervention, sexual violence in youth can result in immediate and lifelong consequences.

Addressing adolescent sexual assault is complex because legal definitions of children and youth differ by country. A significant number of perpetrators are youth themselves.

Most adolescent survivors do not tell their parents or other adults about the assault, but they may tell a friend so that they can get support without having to involve the police or their parents.

By the age of 18, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience sexual assault.

Girls and boys who are sexually abused as children carry that trauma with them into adulthood, and the impact of this on their mental, emotional and physical health can be significant.

In the case of adolescent survivors who were sexually assaulted by a family member or caretaker, you may be mandated to notify the appropriate authorities.