The Invisible Epidemic
Understanding Intrafamilial Abuse: Behind every statistic is a child whose loudest cry for help was met with silence. Our research highlights the urgent need to break the cycle of secrecy that protects offenders within the home.
Over 90%
Of abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows and trusts.
Hidden Reality
Intrafamilial abuse remains the most excluded form of violence in national inquiries.
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1 in 4
The prevalence of intrafamilial child sexual abuse remains a shadow over our community.
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90%
Child sexual abuse occurs within families more often than institutional settings, yet it is rarely the focus of public policy.
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Royal Commissions focus solely on families. It is time for a dedicated inquiry into intrafamilial abuse.
STUDY INSIGHTS
The Silence of the System
The research behind this campaign draws from over three decades of trauma-aware study into the systemic failures surrounding intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Our methodology focuses on qualitative survivor accounts and quantitative analysis of legal outcomes, revealing a consistent pattern of institutional dismissal. Statistics show that while institutional abuse has gained necessary scrutiny, abuse occurring within the family unit remains the most frequent yet least reported form of violence against children.
Findings indicate that survivors of intrafamilial abuse face unique barriers to justice, including familial pressure, economic dependency, and a legal system that often prioritizes parental rights over child safety. Study insights suggest that 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows, thrives in secrecy, and leaves long-term psychological impacts that Require specialized, trauma-informed support systems that are currently absent from our national framework.
Further Reading & Resources
These resources share research and analysis on child safety, abuse within families, and how systems respond. They are intended for policymakers, practitioners and community advocates.
1. Prevalence and types of perpetrators
Mathews et al. (2024)
Child sexual abuse by different classes and types of perpetrator: Prevalence and trends from an Australian national survey. Child Abuse & Neglect, 147, 106562. Focus: National survey data from Australia. Use this for: Showing how common abuse is and who the main perpetrators are.
Seto et al. (2015)
The puzzle of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: A meta-analysis comparing intrafamilial and extrafamilial offenders with child victims. Clinical Psychology Review, 39, 42–57. Focus: Comparing abuse within families to abuse outside the family. Use this for: Explaining why intrafamilial abuse needs specific attention.
2. Abuse by caregivers and people in positions of trust
Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P, 2024)
Production of child sexual abuse material in Canada: A study of legal decisions from 2001 to 2019 (Executive summary). Focus: How people in positions of trust, including caregivers, are involved in creating and sharing abusive material. Use this for: Showing that harm can be caused by those closest to children.
3. International and regional data
Childlight (2025)
2025 Into the Light Index on Global Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Supplemental Thematic Analysis Report. Edinburgh: Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute. Focus: Global and regional data on child sexual exploitation and abuse. Use this for: Showing that abuse within families is a widespread issue, not limited to one country.
END THE SILENCE
Your signature is a step toward justice. Together, we can ensure intrafamilial child sexual abuse is no longer a hidden epidemic.