Child sexual abuse as an international health problem

The sexual abuse of children by adults is a global phenomenon, though not always admitted to exist nor defined as a problem. Rather, the associated physical and behavioural sequelae to sexual assault are viewed in isolation by the child, family and health care providers because of cultural and political factors that are, to some extent, specific to certain societies. Yet they are universal when viewed in the broader context of women's role. The Council of National Representatives voted at the ICN Congress in Seoul to establish a policy for the nurse's role in protecting children from abuse (see page 140). Below the author presents her argument for defining the sexual abuse of children as an international health problem.