Publications on Violence and Harassment

Child Sexual Abuse I: An Overview (The Facts) (available online only) Child sexual abuse affects tens of thousands of children and young teens every year. Though sexual abuse is all too common, many adults are unprepared or unwilling to deal with the problem when faced with it, leading to underreporting of the crime and stigmatizing of the victim. Child sexual abuse can take many forms, but is always a violation of a young person’s rights, and increases the risk of many adverse physical and mental health conditions. Child Sexual Abuse II: Resiliency and Prevention (The Facts) (available online only) Experts believe many cases of child sexual abuse go undisclosed. When a child does disclose that they are experiencing sexual abuse, society's discomfort with sexuality can lead to an inadequate or ineffective response from adults. However, education and training can help prevent sexual abuse and aid recovery. Though child sexual abuse is a grave violation of a young person's rights and brings the risk of many adverse health conditions, recovery and healthy adult life are possible. Dating Violence Among Adolescents (The Facts) (available online only) More than 20 percent of all adolescents report having experienced either psychological or physical violence from an intimate partner – and underreporting remains a concern. Dating violence includes psychological or emotional violence, such as controlling behaviors or jealousy; physical violence, such as hitting or punching; and sexual violence such as nonconsensual sexual activity and rape. Dating violence and abuse can lead to negative sexual health outcomes: the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy are higher for young people who have a history of abuse. Sexual Abuse and Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa (The Facts) (available online only) Sexual abuse and violence are serious problems that transcend racial, economic, social and regional lines. Violence is frequently directed toward females and youth, who lack the economic and social status to resist or avoid it. Adolescents and young women, in particular, may experience abuses in the form of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and/or female genital mutilation. Cultural mores against reporting abuse make it difficult to assess accurately, and few adolescent health programs in sub-Saharan African address these critical issues. The Impact of Homophobia and Racism on GLBTQ Youth of Color (The Facts) (available online only) As members of more than one minority group, GLBTQ youth of color face special challenges in a society which often presents heterosexuality as the only acceptable orientation and in which nonwhites have disproportionately higher rates of negative sexual outcomes. Economic and cultural disparities, as well as sexual risk taking and other risk-taking behavior, make these youth vulnerable to HIV, pregnancy, and sexual violence. Holistic, culturally competent health care is essential to their well being. Tips and Strategies for Addressing Harassment (From Research to Practice) (available online only) Provides solutions for youth-serving professionals to stop verbal and physical harassment, especially of GLBTQ youth.