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09/02/2009
Child Sex Abuse Calls To Charity Reach record Levels
The number of children contacting the counselling service ChildLine has reached record levels, it has emerged.
According to the charity, more than 13,000 told the telephone helpline that they were victims of sex abuse - a 50% increase on the figure three years ago.
Almost 6,000 of the children told ChildLine they had been raped, including 465 children aged seven or under. The service added that it was only able to answer two-thirds of calls made to it.
Founder and president of the charity, Esther Rantzen said the service needed to be expanded "so that every child's cry for help can be answered".
Ms Rantzen added: "Our nightmare is the child who plucks up the courage to ring, fails to get through, and never dares try again.
"Imagine the distress of a child who cannot get through to a counsellor before she is raped again that night."
Of the 13,237 children who rag ChildLine, 61% were aged between 12 and 15, and most had been abused by a family member.
(JM/BMcC)
According to the charity, more than 13,000 told the telephone helpline that they were victims of sex abuse - a 50% increase on the figure three years ago.
Almost 6,000 of the children told ChildLine they had been raped, including 465 children aged seven or under. The service added that it was only able to answer two-thirds of calls made to it.
Founder and president of the charity, Esther Rantzen said the service needed to be expanded "so that every child's cry for help can be answered".
Ms Rantzen added: "Our nightmare is the child who plucks up the courage to ring, fails to get through, and never dares try again.
"Imagine the distress of a child who cannot get through to a counsellor before she is raped again that night."
Of the 13,237 children who rag ChildLine, 61% were aged between 12 and 15, and most had been abused by a family member.
(JM/BMcC)
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