when a person makes someone do something sexual against their will. See Incest, and abuse is never OK.

Sexual activity that is deemed improper or harmful, as between an adult and a minor or with a person of diminished mental capacity, usually forced by one person on another, as by the use of threats or coercion

Sexual behaviors that are against the law or the rights of another person. ("Whether it is rape or child molestation, sexual abuse is harmful to the victim.")

Any kind of sexual contact between a child and an older person. (241)

a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat; "most states have replaced the common law definition of rape with statutes defining sexual assault"

A type of maltreatment that refers to the involvement of the child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator, including contacts for sexual purposes, molestation, statutory rape, prostitution, pornography, exposure, incest, or other sexually exploitative activities.

Injury or exploitation of a child’s body for the purpose of sexual gratification on the part of the abuser. (click here for more info)

Any type of unwanted sexual contact, touching or fondling.

The employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or any simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct; or rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter-familiar relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.

The coercion of an incapacitated adult into having sexual contact with the perpetrator or another person. A caregiver of the incapacitated person must be involved either directly (i.e. as the perpetrator or sexual partner) or indirectly (by allowing or enabling the conditions which result in the sexual coercion).

Forced or manipulated participation in sexual acts, which also includes being made to watch sex acts or looking at or taking part in pornography.

generally a more powerful person exerting inappropriate behavior toward a less powerful one; may include very suggestive language, use of pornography, fondling, petting, masturbation, exhibitionism, voyeurism, oral sex, or full vaginal or anal intercourse.

is the victimization of a child by sexual activities, including mlestation, indecent exposure, fondling, rape, and incest.

Is a form of abuse by means of sexual behavior between offender and victim. Most forms of sexual abuse are crimes in most countries. Forms of sexual abuse involve both physical sexual behavior, such as rape or sexual assault, and psychological forms of abuse, such as verbal sexual behavior or stalking. Between adults, only non-consensual behavior is sexual abuse, and should be distinguished from consensual sex involving pain or humiliation such as BDSM. Many such activities, while acceptable between adult consenting partners, would constitute sexual abuse if forced on a non-consenting adult.

Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and an older person. Behaviors that are sexually abusive often involve bodily contact, such as in the case of sexual kissing, touching, fondling of genitals, and intercourse. However, behaviors may be sexually abusive even if they do not involve contact, such as in the case of genital exposure ("flashing"), verbal pressure for sex, and sexual exploitation for purposes of prostitution or pornography.

sexual mistreatment, including inappropriate touching and talk, in which a child is used for the sexual pleasure of an older or more knowledgeable child or adult. Sexual abuse is different from commercial sexual exploitation because no payment is involved.

This includes unwelcome sexual advances, exhibitionism, voyeurism, suggestive behaviours or comments and exposure to pornographic material, and involvement of others in activities for the purposes of pornography, as well as all forms of unwanted sexual contact. Items linked to this NZFVC Topic Area include research relating to all of the above forms of sexual abuse.

Psychological or physical injury of a sexual nature, such as rape, incest, fondling and indecent exposure.

The involvement of dependant developmentally immature children and adolescents in sexual activities they do not truly comprehend and for which they are unable to give informed consent, or that violate the social taboos of family roles (Schechter and Roberge 1976)

Forcing someone to have sexual relations without his or her consent. It can be in the form of any kind of unwanted sexual touching or advances.

inappropriate adolescent or adult sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child's genitals, making the child fondle the adult's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, sexual exploitation, or exposure to pornography. To be considered child abuse, these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider) or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts.

Any sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given.This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants, and all sexual contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. The sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, or noncontact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism (Berliner & Elliott, 2002)

Sexual abuse is any form of sexual activity where there is no consent or consent is not possible.

Sexual activity where the victim is a minor. The perpetrator may be an adult or a minor. Sexual abuse may include fondling, intercourse, oral sex, child pornography, forcing the child to watch others engage in sexual activity, watching the child masturbate, or inappropriate kissing.

It is estimated that 90% of the children defined as those with special needs have been sexually abused in their lifetimes. This includes both boys and girls and even extremely young children. For a number of reasons, we do not attach this term to individual children. It may not always have been proven that the child has been sexually abused, but such abuse is quite common with special needs children. It may surface at a later time and some children who have experienced sexual abuse may act out sexually and will need appropriate therapy to help them cope with past abuse.

Abuse of a sexual nature such as rape, incest, and indecent exposure. Sexual abuse can cause various physical and emotional problems including lack of self-esteem, self-destructive behavior, anxiety and depression.

Any involvement of a child in an act designed to provide sexual gratification to an adult.