Better education for children and adults as well as early intervention for young offenders have been floated to stem the scourge of child sexual abuse.
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While there are perceptions children are mainly being targeted by predatory rapists and pedophile rings, a considerable proportion of sex offending is perpetrated by other children and adolescents, psychologist Fiona Martin says.
"The increase in child sexual abuse perpetrated by adolescents is thought to be influenced by the accessibility of online pornography and harmful sexual images," said Dr Martin, who sits on the federal government's respectful relationships expert working group.
"I have seen the consequences of childhood sexual abuse on victims, the lifelong trauma - more can be done to prevent sexual abuse in Australia."
The call comes in light of a renewed focus on child sexual exploitation following media reporting in the lead-up to Christmas and in the new year, including further information relating to the actions of Jeffrey Epstein.
Having the right systems in place to enable disclosure and necessary support is critical, as is teaching young people how to deal with being told such information, with teenagers more likely to tell a peer about their experience, Dr Martin says.
"Students need practical skills for responding to a friend who may share 'confidential' information about sexual abuse," the former Liberal MP said.
"Educating children from an early age about protective behaviours, respectful relationships and consent education is critical."
There needs to be a focus on breaking the cycle of abuse, with those who experienced sexual assault as kids more likely to develop sexual offending tendencies - but viewing this as the only factor is simplistic, Dr Martin says.
"There are many other factors, for example, unhealthy attachment to caregivers, adverse childhood experiences, substance abuse, anti-social personality characteristics and unemployment," she said.
"Mental health problems are common and adult perpetrators often have complex psychiatric profiles.
"Clinical rehabilitation, anti-libidinal medication and targeted psychological intervention to avoid recidivism are critical."
More resources should be put towards particularly vulnerable groups including girls, young people with a disability and LGBTQI+ students, the child psychologist said.
While public education campaigns to prevent violence against women are a helpful start, they are not enough to combat and eliminate a culture of gender stereotypes that condones such violence, she said.
Cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance, control and hyper-sexuality needed to be addressed, she said.
A UNSW study found about 10 per cent of men - equating to almost one million Australians - endorsed at least one of five behaviours characterised as sexual offending, including online behaviour such as sexual conversations with children.
The expert working group is moving to deliver age-appropriate and evidenced-based respectful relationships programs in schools, Education Minister Jason Clare said.
"Teaching respectful relationships education in schools assists students build the skills, values and attitudes required to develop and maintain positive, healthy, and respectful relationships," he said.
The expert panel will oversee the development of a national framework to help schools properly implement respectful relationship education.
Australian Associated Press
