This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8347589.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Claims of sex abuse by women grow | Claims of sex abuse by women grow |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A huge rise in the number of children calling to report sexual abuse by women has been revealed by ChildLine. | A huge rise in the number of children calling to report sexual abuse by women has been revealed by ChildLine. |
| Over the past five years, the charity says the number of such calls has risen five times faster than youngsters reporting abuse by a man. | Over the past five years, the charity says the number of such calls has risen five times faster than youngsters reporting abuse by a man. |
| Of 16,094 children who called ChildLine about sex abuse last year, 2,142 told of abuse by a woman, up 132% on 2004-5. | Of 16,094 children who called ChildLine about sex abuse last year, 2,142 told of abuse by a woman, up 132% on 2004-5. |
| Men still account for the majority of child abuse claims, but the NSPCC said female sex abuse was under-reported. | Men still account for the majority of child abuse claims, but the NSPCC said female sex abuse was under-reported. |
| This is because there is a reluctance or unwillingness on the part of professionals to acknowledge or identify sexual abuse by females, the charity suggested. | This is because there is a reluctance or unwillingness on the part of professionals to acknowledge or identify sexual abuse by females, the charity suggested. |
| Many would find it shocking that any woman - let alone a mother - can sexually assault a child Sue Minto NSPCC | Many would find it shocking that any woman - let alone a mother - can sexually assault a child Sue Minto NSPCC |
| The ChildLine research said nearly two-thirds (1,311) of the claims it received about sex abuse by a female involved the child's mother. | |
| Just over twice as many victims (2,972) said they had been abused by their father - which amounted to 45% of calls about sex abuse by males. | Just over twice as many victims (2,972) said they had been abused by their father - which amounted to 45% of calls about sex abuse by males. |
| The number of children claiming to have been abused by men grew by 27% in the same four-year period. | The number of children claiming to have been abused by men grew by 27% in the same four-year period. |
| The ChildLine research also showed that 42% more children were calling the helpline in 2008-9 than in 2004-5. | The ChildLine research also showed that 42% more children were calling the helpline in 2008-9 than in 2004-5. |
| CHILDLINE CONTACTS ChildLine is a free, confidential helpline which can be contacted on 0800 1111You can also send e-mails via the ChildLine website | |
| Sue Minto, head of ChildLine, said: "Most sex abuse calls to ChildLine come from girls saying they were assaulted by a male. | Sue Minto, head of ChildLine, said: "Most sex abuse calls to ChildLine come from girls saying they were assaulted by a male. |
| "But a growing number of callers now say they were sexually abused by a female. This may be partly because more boys are calling us than previously. | "But a growing number of callers now say they were sexually abused by a female. This may be partly because more boys are calling us than previously. |
| "Many would find it shocking that any woman - let alone a mother - can sexually assault a child. But they do." | "Many would find it shocking that any woman - let alone a mother - can sexually assault a child. But they do." |
| The recent cases of child abuse at a Plymouth nursery provoked a particularly strong outcry because of the nature of the offences, but also because two of the perpetrators were female. | The recent cases of child abuse at a Plymouth nursery provoked a particularly strong outcry because of the nature of the offences, but also because two of the perpetrators were female. |
| Boys reporting | Boys reporting |
| Dr Lisa Bunting, senior researcher at the NSPCC, who has studied the issue, said: "There is such an intense stigma in disclosing incidents of abuse by women. | Dr Lisa Bunting, senior researcher at the NSPCC, who has studied the issue, said: "There is such an intense stigma in disclosing incidents of abuse by women. |
| "We get a lot of stigma with any type of sex abuse, but this is particularly the case in the participation of women." | "We get a lot of stigma with any type of sex abuse, but this is particularly the case in the participation of women." |
| She said this often led to victims "internalising" the abuse because they could not believe it had happened and did not think they would be believed. | She said this often led to victims "internalising" the abuse because they could not believe it had happened and did not think they would be believed. |
| She added: "If you don't think females are capable of committing sex offences, then you are never going to be looking for that." | She added: "If you don't think females are capable of committing sex offences, then you are never going to be looking for that." |
| The ChildLine report said the issue of female sex offending was not well-reflected in policy, practice and guidance on child protection and offender management. | The ChildLine report said the issue of female sex offending was not well-reflected in policy, practice and guidance on child protection and offender management. |
| However, the report did not claim that sexual abuse by women is on the rise. | However, the report did not claim that sexual abuse by women is on the rise. |
| It instead suggested that, as more boys are tending to call its helpline, more cases are being reported. | It instead suggested that, as more boys are tending to call its helpline, more cases are being reported. |
| It added: "It is important that regardless of what is currently known about the numbers of female offenders, more is done to understand the nature of sexual offending by women [and to] raise awareness among the public so that they can report it." | It added: "It is important that regardless of what is currently known about the numbers of female offenders, more is done to understand the nature of sexual offending by women [and to] raise awareness among the public so that they can report it." |