Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse (also referred to as molestation) is defined as the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person to another. The euphemism "bad touch" is sometimes used to describe such abuse. (Renvoizé 1982)

Different types of sexual abuse involve:
 * Non-consensual, forced physical sexual behavior such as rape or sexual assault
 * Psychological forms of abuse, such as verbal sexual behavior or stalking.
 * The use of a position of trust for sexual purposes.

Signs of sexual abuse

 * Unexplained injuries, especially to genitalia and breasts (in females)
 * Torn or stained clothing or underwear
 * Pregnancy
 * Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
 * Unexplained behavioral problems
 * Depression
 * Self abuse and/or suicidal behavior
 * Drug and/or alcohol abuse
 * Sudden loss of interest in sexual activity
 * Sudden increase of sexual behavior

Please note that these symptoms could be the result of a number of other things, and just because a person is exhibiting one or more of them it is not a definite sign that they have been sexually abused.

Spousal sexual abuse
Spousal abuse is the term applied to the specific form of domestic violence, where physical or sexual abuse is perpetrated by one spouse upon another. Frequently this involves forced sex (spousal rape) upon a spouse without their consent. 

Sexual abuse of minors
In the majority of cultures and countries, sex is legal and acceptable only if both parties give consent.

The age of consent, that is, the age at which the law presumes a person has the physical, emotional and sexual maturity to make an informed adult decision to enter into sexual activity, differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, from early teens in Italy and Spain to mid and late teens elsewhere (for example, 16 in the United Kingdom and 17 in Ireland). Some states also provide different ages of consent for homosexual boys than heterosexual boys and girls. Yet separately the law may specify a different age where a teenager ceases to be a child and becomes an adult. As a result, where a difference exists, it may be perfectly legal to have sex with a child where the individual, though still deemed a child in law, is above the age of consent specified in local legislation. In most cases, the age of consent and statutory rape laws aim at protecting children and teenagers from exploitation, particularly physical or psychological exploitation involving sexual behavior.

Sexual misconduct by teachers is common in American schools according to a recent report. .