STATISTICS

Sexual victimization of children is an enormous problem that is largely unrecognized and under reported. 

• Statistics show that 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood, yet fewer than 35% of these child sexual assaults are reported to authorities. ^1

•  5 children die every day as a result of child abuse, and more than 80% of these victims are under the age of 4.^2

• A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.^2

• Of reported rapes of children under 12 years old, 90% of the victims knew the perpetrator.^2

• Child abuse occurs at every social-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.^2

• 36% of all women in prison and 14% of all men in prison in the United States were abused as children.^2

• Children who have been sexually abused are 2,5 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 3,8 times more likely to become addicted to drugs. 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy. ^1

• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.^2

^1 - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

^2 - Child Help