Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse of children is a very serious concern in countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization’s Report of the Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention, sexual abuse refers to “the involvement of children in sexual activity that they do not fully understand, are unable to give informed consent to, for which they are not developmentally prepared, or that violates the standards of the society in which these children live” (1999, p.15). Children and adolescents with intellectual disorders (ID) are considered to be more at risk for sexual abuse than those without such disorders. Additionally, they are more at risk for becoming not only victims of sexual abuse but also perpetrators of sexual abuse. This entry examines why children and adolescents with ID are more vulnerable and what can be done to diminish the risks.