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What is sexual abuse?
Every person is precious and worthy of dignity, safety and care. Sexual abuse is any sexual act, contact or behaviour imposed on a person without freely given consent, or in circumstances where consent cannot be given. This includes children and vulnerable adults. Across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, sexual abuse can include sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, grooming, coercion, or exposing a person to sexual activity or sexual material in harmful or unlawful ways.
Sexual abuse may happen once or over a long period of time. It can involve contact or non-contact behaviours and often includes an abuse of power, trust or authority. Examples may include:
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exposing a person to sexual behaviour or sexualised acts
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sexual touching or penetration without consent, or where a child cannot consent.
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unwanted touching of private parts, whether over or under clothing
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pressuring or involving a child in sexualised behaviour or exposure.
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showing, creating or sharing sexual images involving children, which is harmful and unlawful.
What is child sexual abuse?
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Child sexual abuse is always harmful and is recognised as a serious offence under the laws of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries, although legal definitions and reporting requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
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Child sexual abuse is not limited to sexual intercourse. It can include a range of sexual acts, sexual touching, indecent exposure, grooming, or involving a child in sexual material or sexual activity.
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Child sexual abuse occurs when an adult, or sometimes an older or more powerful young person, uses power, trust, authority or coercion to involve a child in sexual activity.
Is child sexual abuse a concern in Christian communities?
Yes. Child sexual abuse can occur in any community, including churches and faith-based organisations. Church life is built on trust, pastoral care, close relationships and regular contact with children and young people. These gifts of ministry must be protected by strong safeguarding practices, clear accountability and a faithful commitment to listen and respond when concerns are raised.
In Australia, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard from 8,013 survivors in private sessions and found that religious institutions were a major setting in the abuse disclosed to the Commission. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Abuse in Care Royal Commission heard nearly 3,000 survivor accounts about abuse and neglect in state and faith-based care. Across the Pacific, child protection agencies continue to report high levels of violence, abuse and neglect affecting children. Together, these findings remind us that Christian communities must never assume abuse could not happen here. We are called to be humble, vigilant and committed to creating churches where children are safe, heard and protected.