Migration and Transcultural Aspect of Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Sexual abuse toward children and adolescents is a global public health and human rights concern. Despite being a crime in most countries, and with well-known physical and mental health consequences, the majority of sexual offences are not reported. Child and adolescents sexual abuse is a maltreatment form characterized by contact or noncontact acts perpetrated by adults or older children toward younger children who have little power to resist. This overview aims to understand the social context of child sexual abuse, and the perceived roles of parents, community, and key professionals in handling such incidents of children and adolescents with a migration background.

Shame, dissociative seizures and their correlation among traumatised female Yazidi with experience of sexual violence

“…11,12 This is often because those affected tend to conceal their traumata because of shame and feelings of guilt, but also out of fear of being ostracised by their native community. 13,14 Among individuals who have experienced trauma with body contact, especially in the area of sexual violence, shame plays a particular role in the development of peritraumatic or post-traumatic symptoms, [15][16][17] and is linked to prolonged clinical problems. 18 Emphasising the central affective role of shame, 19 it has been suggested that PTSD, which often results from repetitive victimisation, especially sexual violence, can be conceptualised as both trauma disorder and shame disorder.…”

“…11,12 This is often because those affected tend to conceal their traumata because of shame and feelings of guilt, but also out of fear of being ostracised by their native community. 13,14 Among individuals who have experienced trauma with body contact, especially in the area of sexual violence, shame plays a particular role in the development of peritraumatic or post-traumatic symptoms, 15–17 and is linked to prolonged clinical problems. 18…”