Sexual Abuse as a Public Health Problem

Adopted by the ATSA Executive Board of Directors on September 9, 2000

The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), incorporated in 1984, is a non-profit, interdisciplinary organization that is focused on the prevention of sexual abuse through effective treatment and management of sexual offenders. ATSA is a professional membership organization comprised of 2000 clinicians, academicians, and researchers from around the world. ATSA is committed to the protection of our communities through responsible and ethical treatment of sexual offenders and their victims, to the maintenance of high standards of professionalism, to the support of empirical research, and to the improvement of public awareness and knowledge regarding sexual abuse.The initial portion of this statement is noted as an Executive Summary. This summary can be used in lieu of the longer, more specific position statement.

Executive Summary

Sexual abuse against persons of all ages represents a serious national problem that cannot be solved solely through the criminal justice system. The public health approach, which focuses on prevention before an act occurs, offers a framework that complements the criminal justice approach.

Recommendations:

1. The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers recognizes sexual abuse as a public health issue.
   
2. The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers supports the development of a national public health surveillance system for sexual abuse that includes reported, as well as unreported cases of sexual abuse.
   
3. The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers encourages researchers to conduct studies and publish data to increase understanding of risk factors related to sexual abuse perpetration and victimization.
   
4. The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers supports the development of primary prevention and early intervention programs based on risk factor and related research.
   

Click here to access the Sexual Abuse as a Public Health Problem policy statement in its entirety.