Agreement about this definition is important in order to better protect children and adolescents from sexual abuse and to be able to better recognise sexual violence.
What is sexual abuse?
In the education, psychology or the social sciences, any sexual act performed on, with or in front of children and adolescents against their will or to which they cannot knowingly consent due to physical, emotional, mental or linguistic inferiority is defined as sexual abuse or sexual violence. The abuser uses her/his position of power or authority to satisfy her/his own needs at the expense of minors.
It can be generally assumed in the case of children under the age of 14, that they cannot consent to sexual acts. Sexual acts must always be considered to be sexual violence, even if a child expresses that he or she consents or an abuser interprets it that way.
The legal definition of abuse only includes chargeable offences
The above sociological definition is more comprehensive than the legal definition because it includes all chargeable acts, but it can also include acts that are not chargeable. The legal definition of sexual abuse only includes those acts that are chargeable. You can find more detailed information about this at the Sexual Abuse Help portal and in our criminal law factsheet.
UBSKM uses the sociological definition in its texts to include acts that are hurtful and problematic in terms of psychological development but are not chargeable.
This is because these acts can be very different: They range from lewd remarks and ambiguous messages, which are not chargeable, to French kissing, exposing and masturbating in front of children or adolescents, showing pornography or even depictions of child abuse or forcing sexual acts in front of a webcam, to touching and manipulating the genitals or even rape.
Sexual abuse is always an attack on a complete person
This is regardless of how serious the acts are, whether they take place offline or online and are chargeable or not: Sexual abuse is an attack on a complete person involving their basic trust and their psychological and physical integrities. Sexual abuse results in the survivors experiencing a huge loss of trust and control, disgust, humiliation, powerlessness and shame.
Furthermore, you can also find more detailed information about the subject of abuse, information about the frequency, the context of the abuse, the abusers and how you can better recognise sexual abuse. You can also find information about the "sexual abuse" "sexual violence" and "sexualised violence” terms that are used very differently.
Which terms apply when talking about sexual abuse?
Various terms are used to describe sexual abuse acts. How do they differ from each other and how and when are they used?
"Sexual abuse", "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence?”
Here in Germany, the "sexual abuse" or "child sexual abuse" terms are used by the general public, in the media, in politics and in the criminal code. The terms "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence" against children and adolescents are used more frequently in professional practice and science. These wordings make the seriousness of the acts clear and highlight the fact that they refer to violence that was carried out with sexual exploitation intentions. They are never a sexual experience, but always violent acts.
The term "sexual abuse" is often criticised as being inappropriate because abuse would always presuppose legitimate use, however, it is fundamentally excluded in the case of sexuality towards children. What counts against this criticism is the fact that it is precisely the abuse of the trust of the children or adolescents involved that constitutes the essence of these acts and that it is extremely widespread throughout the population and is still being used in criminal law.
The terms "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence” make it less clear that it can be sexual violence even if no physical violence is used as opposed to the more specific term "abuse".
You will also find more detailed information about the subject of abuse, information about the frequency, the context of the abuse, the abusers and how you can better recognise sexual abuse. You will also find information about the "sexual abuse" "sexual violence" and "sexualised violence” terms that are used very differently.
When talking about sexual abuse: which terms apply?
Various terms are used to describe sexual abuse acts. How do they differ from each other and how and when are they used?
"Sexual abuse", "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence?”
Here in Germany, the "sexual abuse" or "child sexual abuse" terms are used by the general public, in the media, in politics and in the criminal code. The terms "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence" against children and adolescents are used more frequently in professional practice and science. These wordings make the seriousness of the acts clear and highlight the fact that they refer to violence that was carried out with sexual exploitation intentions. They are never a sexual experience, but always violent acts.
The term "sexual abuse" is often criticised as being inappropriate because abuse would always presuppose legitimate use, however, it is fundamentally excluded in the case of sexuality towards children. What counts against this criticism is the fact that it is precisely the abuse of the trust of the children or adolescents involved that constitutes the essence of these acts and that it is extremely widespread throughout the population and is still being used in criminal law.
The terms "sexual violence" or "sexualised violence” make it less clear that it can be sexual violence even if no physical violence is used as opposed to the more specific term, "abuse”.
