SCARS Survey On Childhood Sexual Abuse
“29% of respondents disclosed experiencing sexual abuse before their 18th birthday,” according to a recent survey commissioned by SCARS Bermuda, with the charity noting that “these findings remind us that child sexual abuse is both prevalent and profoundly life-altering.”
A spokesperson said, “A recent survey commissioned by SCARS Bermuda and conducted by KPMG has found that 29% of respondents disclosed experiencing sexual abuse before their 18th birthday, equivalent to close to one in three adults surveyed.
“1,010 community members participated in the study, a sample considered large enough to be statistically significant and representative of Bermuda’s population size.
Key findings
- “Close to 1 in 3 adults in Bermuda disclosed that they had been sexually abused as children, including nearly 1 in 3 females and nearly 1 in 6 males. The average victim age was 8.6 years.
- “94% were sexually abused by someone they knew, with 54% disclosing abuse perpetrated by a family member. 53% experienced sexual abuse from more than one perpetrator.
- “Child-on-child sexual abuse was also common, with 42% experiencing sexual abuse perpetrated by someone under the age of 18.
- “Very few survivors [13%] had reported their abuse to authorities, and even fewer [4.5%] saw their perpetrators convicted. Feelings of confusion and guilt were key barriers to disclosure.
“The findings highlight the lasting impact that child sexual abuse can have well into adulthood. Among respondents with lived experience, 79% reported mental health challenges, while over half also reported difficulties with relationships, trust, self-esteem, shame, and self-worth. More than one-third reported experiencing depression, and nearly one in five reported suicidal thoughts or behaviours.
“The study was undertaken to provide an updated understanding of child sexual abuse in Bermuda and to help inform the continued development of SCARS’ prevention and awareness initiatives, including the upgraded Darkness to Light® Beyond Stewards of Children® curriculum, scheduled to launch this autumn.
“The study was designed using trauma-informed principles and informed by the experiences and perspectives of more than 1,000 community members. It provides updated local evidence on the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse in Bermuda and aligns with prevalence rates found in previous research conducted in partnership with the Bermuda Health Council in 2017.”
“These findings remind us that child sexual abuse is both prevalent and profoundly life-altering,” said Debi Ray-Rivers, Executive Director and Founder of SCARS Bermuda.
“For many survivors, the effects of child sexual abuse do not end when childhood does. Every child deserves to grow up safe, and every survivor deserves to be heard and supported. These findings reinforce the importance of continuing to educate our community, strengthen prevention efforts, and ensure that children and families have access to the support they need. Our commitment to prevention and awareness remains unwavering because children deserve nothing less.”
The full report is available at www.scarsbermuda.com.
The public exposure of child predators in media and community networks serves as a critical mechanism for collective safety and accountability. When individuals who pose a threat to children are transparently identified on the news, in print, and across social media, it empowers families to take immediate, informed precautions to protect their households. This open flow of information dismantles the anonymity that perpetrators rely on to access vulnerable spaces, ensuring that the community remains vigilant and that institutional blind spots are minimized. Conversely, a culture of institutional secrecy and concealment creates a highly permissive environment for abuse to persist unchecked. When allegations are silenced, underreported, or shielded from the public eye, it isolates victims and actively protects offenders from both legal consequences and public scrutiny. This lack of transparency leaves families entirely unaware of localized risks, rendering child predators untraceable within their own neighborhoods and directly enabling a cycle of repeated exploitation. Dismantling systemic secrecy in favor of public accountability is essential to preventing future harm and restoring community trust. Relying on confidentiality regarding offenses against minors fractures the social fabric and compromises public safety. To ensure robust child protection, it is vital to establish reliable, accessible mechanisms for tracking and identifying offenders, shifting the burden of fear away from innocent children and placing the full weight of accountability onto the perpetrators.