Child-on-child sexual abuse refers to sexual behaviours initiated by one child that are harmful, exploitative, or abusive toward another child.

It is an issue that is layered with complexity, can be difficult to identify, and even harder to talk about. These behaviours may occur between siblings, peers, or within friendship groups, and are often misunderstood or minimised due to assumptions about age, intent, or curiosity.

For practitioners, recognising that children can both cause and experience harm is essential. Early, informed, and sensitive intervention can make a significant difference in protecting children and supporting their recovery.

Sibling sexual abuse is one of the most under-recognised forms of child sexual abuse, often occurring in the context of shared family environments where boundaries may be blurred and disclosure is difficult.

It is a deeply complex and often misunderstood form of intrafamilial harm and can have profound and lasting impacts on all individuals involved, particularly the child who has been harmed.

It involves sexual behaviours initiated by one sibling towards another that are abusive, coercive, or exploitative, and can have serious emotional, psychological, and developmental consequences for the child who has been harmed. The dynamics are complex—rooted in power imbalances, secrecy, and sometimes minimised by caregivers or practitioners due to misconceptions about sibling relationships.

Understanding the nature, impact, and appropriate responses to sibling sexual abuse is essential for safeguarding children and supporting recovery.

Intra-familial child sexual abuse refers to sexual abuse perpetrated by a family member or others, such as foster carers or a parent’s partner, who feel like family from the child’s point of view.

This form of abuse is particularly complex and deeply traumatic, as it violates the fundamental trust and safety that children should experience within their own homes.

For practitioners, understanding the dynamics of intra-familial abuse is crucial as it often involves secrecy, manipulation, and emotional coercion, making disclosure difficult for the child. Recognising the signs, responding with empathy, and working within a trauma-informed framework are essential steps in supporting affected children and their families.

Extra-familial child sexual abuse refers to sexual harm perpetrated by individuals outside the child’s immediate family, such as peers, adults in positions of trust, or strangers

This form of abuse can occur in schools, online spaces, youth organisations, or within the wider community. It often involves grooming, manipulation, and exploitation, and may be harder to detect due to the absence of familial ties.

For practitioners, understanding that abuse can happen in any setting is vital. Building awareness of the signs, contexts, and vulnerabilities associated with extra-familial abuse is key to safeguarding children and ensuring timely, trauma-informed support.

Not all forms of sexual abuse to a child involve physical contact.

Contact abuse includes any sexual activity where physical touch occurs, such as inappropriate touching, penetration, or forced sexual acts.

Non-contact abuse, though less visible, can be equally harmful—it may involve exposure to sexual content, coercion to engage in sexual conversations or behaviours, or being made to witness sexual acts.

For practitioners, recognising both forms is crucial. Children may struggle to disclose or even understand what has happened to them, and early, sensitive intervention can play a vital role in safeguarding and recovery.

Online child sexual abuse refers to any form of sexual exploitation or abuse of children, that occurs through digital technologies and online platforms.

As digital platforms become increasingly embedded in children's lives, offenders exploit these spaces to groom, exploit, and harm vulnerable individuals. Behaviours such as grooming, sharing or producing indecent images of children, live-streaming abuse, coercing children into sexual activities via messaging apps or social media, and trafficking for online exploitation, are all online abuse.

Online child sexual abuse is a deeply concerning and rapidly evolving threat that demands a coordinated, informed, and compassionate response from practitioners across all sectors.

Practitioners play a critical role in identifying risks, supporting victims, and working collaboratively to prevent abuse and bring perpetrators to justice.