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15/05/2006
Childline reports thousands of rape calls
More than half the calls made to Childline last year were about rape, it has been revealed.
The 24-hour helpline, which is run by the NSPCC, received over 8,500 calls about sexual abuse last year, with 51% of those being about rape.
Childline said that nearly 4,500 children and young people called the helpline regarding rape cases.
Eight of ten reports were made by girls, while in 86% of the cases, the child knew the reported rapist.
Of those who said that they had been raped, 842 said that the perpetrator was their natural father, while 421 said it was a stranger and 285 said it was a boyfriend.
NSPCC director Mary Marsh said: "A child calls Childline on average every hour to talk about rape and other types of sexual abuse.
"Children have phoned in to talk in confidence about having been raped in toilets, phone-boxes, cars, bedrooms, bushes, parks and elsewhere.
"As terrible as these calls are, the children who phone are those who have found the strength to speak out. Many others feel unable to do this."
The NSPCC has launched a new campaign urging children to speak out on all forms of sex abuse. The Don't Hide It campaign is part of the charity's Full Stop campaign and features a new website, which aims to provide a safe on-line 'community' where children can talk about sex abuse and learn how it can be stopped.
There will also be a series of film and print ads, showing 'false face' masks hanging in children's rooms, as part of the campaign. The masks look like real faces and illustrate how many children keep sex abuse a secret.
The ads advise: "If you are being sexually abused, you don't have to hide it anymore."
Ms Marsh said: "Through Don't Hide It we want to help children know that all sex abuse is wrong, whoever is doing it. And we want to reassure those being abused that they are not alone, that it is never their choice and it is not their fault. Although there are not always easy solutions, there are people who can help. Speaking out is the first step."
More information about the campaign can be found at: www.donthideit.com
(KMcA)
The 24-hour helpline, which is run by the NSPCC, received over 8,500 calls about sexual abuse last year, with 51% of those being about rape.
Childline said that nearly 4,500 children and young people called the helpline regarding rape cases.
Eight of ten reports were made by girls, while in 86% of the cases, the child knew the reported rapist.
Of those who said that they had been raped, 842 said that the perpetrator was their natural father, while 421 said it was a stranger and 285 said it was a boyfriend.
NSPCC director Mary Marsh said: "A child calls Childline on average every hour to talk about rape and other types of sexual abuse.
"Children have phoned in to talk in confidence about having been raped in toilets, phone-boxes, cars, bedrooms, bushes, parks and elsewhere.
"As terrible as these calls are, the children who phone are those who have found the strength to speak out. Many others feel unable to do this."
The NSPCC has launched a new campaign urging children to speak out on all forms of sex abuse. The Don't Hide It campaign is part of the charity's Full Stop campaign and features a new website, which aims to provide a safe on-line 'community' where children can talk about sex abuse and learn how it can be stopped.
There will also be a series of film and print ads, showing 'false face' masks hanging in children's rooms, as part of the campaign. The masks look like real faces and illustrate how many children keep sex abuse a secret.
The ads advise: "If you are being sexually abused, you don't have to hide it anymore."
Ms Marsh said: "Through Don't Hide It we want to help children know that all sex abuse is wrong, whoever is doing it. And we want to reassure those being abused that they are not alone, that it is never their choice and it is not their fault. Although there are not always easy solutions, there are people who can help. Speaking out is the first step."
More information about the campaign can be found at: www.donthideit.com
(KMcA)
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