14 children a week reach out to Childline about sexual abuse

A new report from Childline reveals 14 children a week have reached out to them about sexual abuse.

The report also reveals 300 children a year contact Childline about sexual abuse involving rape, incest and being forced to watch and/or perform sexual acts.

Over 100 children contacted the organisation about incest, while 260 children turned to Childline about violence at home.

Annie* is 11 years old. She should be looking forward to a Christmas full of warmth and joy. Instead, she is living in a state of constant terror. Her mother, who is actively involved in prostitution, regularly forces her to have sex with multiple men. She gives Annie anti-anxiety medication and brings Annie to hotels where she is raped.

Jenny’s* mother, who struggles with substance use disorder, exploits her daughter to clear her constant debts. The teenager is forced into sexual acts with older men in return for drugs.

Sophie* was just 13 years of age when she was sexually exploited and blackmailed by criminals she met online, who constantly knew her whereabouts and told her they would kill her parents if she did not do what they said. This included coercing her into creating sexually explicit videos and images.

Whilst Childline data shows that 40 per cent of children who turn to Childline about sexual abuse have been groomed by sexual predators, many others are likely to have had a grooming element.

**Names have been changed

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.