More children are reporting assaults from a woman: CHILD LINE

The NSPCC is releasing new figures today that show last year volunteer counsellors at ChildLine’s South Wales base in Swansea counselled a total of 536 children across the UK about sexual abuse as their main concern. 85 had been sexually abused by a female.

In total, ChildLine counselled 12,268 children nationwide for sexual abuse. Although figures show that the majority of calls were in relation to abuse by a male, the findings show that more children are reporting assaults from a woman, usually their mother. A total of 2,142 young people across the UK told ChildLine they had been sexually abused by a female. Of those callers counselled, 1,311 told ChildLine they had been abused by their mother. The overall proportion of children calling ChildLine about a female offender has risen from 11% of sex abuse calls in 2004-2005 to 17% in 2008-2009.

One 14-year-old boy told a counsellor: “When mum drinks too much she comes into my room, undresses me and makes me have sex with her.”

Family relationship problems constitute the largest additional issue affecting children from across the UK who call to speak about sexual abuse, which is nearly a quarter of those counselled for sexual abuse. This was then followed for girls by physical abuse and pregnancy and for boys physical abuse and emotional abuse.

Jonathan Green, service manager at the ChildLine base in Swansea, said: “Most sex abuse calls to ChildLine come from girls saying they were assaulted by a male. Large numbers of children however say they were sexually abused by a female. Many people find it unimaginable that any woman – let alone a mother – can sexually assault a child, but that is a dangerous assumption to hold. It is so important therefore that we remain vigilant and act on any concern, irrespective of gender.

Sexually abused children are often driven to despair because they don’t know who to tell. Even when they summon the courage to speak, they are scared no one will believe them. We have to listen to these children, take their concerns seriously and give them the protection and support they need.”

He added: “In the last ten years, ChildLine counsellors have helped more than 100,000 sexually abused children. Sexual abuse is still one of the main reasons children contact us. For many, it is the first time they have told anyone about their ordeal.

The NSPCC is developing the ChildLine service to answer more cries for help, and provide more ways to contact us. As ever, young people can continue to call ChildLine on 0800 1111, but now young people can receive more information and support via the website: childline.org.uk. Children can contact ChildLine on the website through email, message boards or one- to-one chats with counsellors. In order to continue to develop this service and answer every child’s call. People can help us grow the service by supporting our Child’s Voice Appeal.”