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divdiv class=story-body readability=71 span class=story-date#13; span class=date25 November 2013/span#13; span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time19:50 ET/span#13; #13; /span#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1Shocking sexual violence is being carried out by children against other children as young as 11, according to an official report./p#13; pThe Office for the Children's Commissioner for England said the perpetrators could be 12 or 13, and rape is seen as normal and inevitable in some areas, especially among gangs./p#13; pIts report said bullying and sexist attitudes exist across the country. /p#13; pCouncil chiefs said work by agencies on child protection needed to improve./p#13; pThe report is the result of a two-year inquiry by the children's commissioner into child exploitation and gangs./p#13; pIt is being published alongside research on young peoples' understanding of consent to sex, and a study on the pressures on young people who have been raised in gang-affected neighbourhoods./p#13; pThe report says legislation is there to protect children but agencies from the police to social services need to become far better at spotting children at risk and providing them with the necessary protection./p#13; span class=cross-head'Chilling evidence'/span#13; pDeputy Children's Commissioner Sue Berelowitz cited the sheer levels of sadism uncovered by the inquiry./p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13; blockquote readability=1p class=first-childThis is a deep malaise within society from which we must not shirk”/p/blockquote#13; span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditSue Berelowitz/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleDeputy Children's Commissioner/span#13; #13; /div p id=story_continues_2In a foreword to the report, Ms Berelowitz said the findings showed the appalling reality of sexual violence committed by young people. /p#13; pThe fact that some adults (usually men) rape and abuse children is generally accepted, she said. /p#13; pThere is, however, a long way to go before the appalling reality of sexual violence and exploitation committed by children and young people is believed./p#13; pWe have found shocking and profoundly distressing evidence of sexual assault, including rape, being carried out by young people against other children and young people./p#13; pWhile we have published chilling evidence of this violence in gang-associated contexts, we know too that it is more widespread than that. This is a deep malaise within society from which we must not shirk./p#13; pMs Berelowitz suggested that the music and pornographic industries have a great deal to answer for in creating such attitudes, with young girls being treated as commodities within gangs, passed around as sexual toys or used to ensnare rival gang members./p#13; pThe inquiry found that 2,409 youngsters were known to be victims of child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups, while a further 16,500 were at risk./p#13; pIt warned that the problem was prevalent in every area of England, and was not restricted just to low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods but in every type of neighbourhood, rural, urban, deprived, not deprived./p#13; span class=cross-head'Normal and inevitable'/span#13; pResearch conducted by Bedfordshire University into sexual violence in gangs suggested two-thirds of young people questioned (65%) knew of young women who had been pressurised or coerced into sexual activity./p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_3Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13; blockquote readability=1p class=first-childOur work shows us that the earlier you help children and families the better the chance they have from breaking out from a negative and often intergenerational cycle of poor relationships”/p/blockquote#13; span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditAnne Longfield /span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleChief executive of children's charity 4Children/span#13; #13; /div p id=story_continues_3Half gave examples of youngsters offering sex in return for status or protection, and two-fifths (41%) said they knew of individual cases of rape - while more than a third (34%) gave examples of gang rape./p#13; pA study by London Metropolitan University suggested that young people had a limited understanding of consent and that sex without consent where those involved knew each other was often not seen as rape./p#13; pOnly one in 12 of those interviewed said that young people would be likely to report crimes of sexual abuse. /p#13; pIt said sexual violence could be seen as normal and inevitable, with young women facing the blame for their own abuse./p#13; pThe victim, usually a girl (but boys are victims too) is invariably blamed for their own assault, the study concluded./p#13; pThey should not have gone to visit the boy; should not have worn a tight top; should not have had the drink; have 'done it before' so have no right to say no./p#13; span class=cross-head'Uncomfortable reading'/span#13; pThe Children's Society charity said too many victims of abuse were being let down by the very professionals there to protect them./p#13; pIts chief executive Matthew Reed called for more projects to help young men and women improve attitudes and awareness. /p#13; pAnne Longfield, chief executive of children's charity 4Children, described the report as shocking and saddening. /p#13; pOur work shows us that the earlier you help children and families the better the chance they have from breaking out from a negative and often intergenerational cycle of poor relationships, parenting and often violence./p#13; pThe report condemned 94% of safeguarding children boards - which are run by local authorities, police, the NHS, the probation service and other groups - for failing to follow government guidance on tackling child exploitation, and set out recommendations for a new framework. /p#13; pThe College of Social Work said organisations needed to work together to provide protection and support that takes into account the complex, challenging and very controlling nature of child sexual exploitation. /p#13; pCouncillor David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said: Nothing councils do is more important than keeping children safe and this report will make uncomfortable reading./p#13; pChild sexual exploitation is a horrific crime which can destroy lives. It is a complex issue to tackle and can be hugely difficult to track. Councils know that we need to do better but, as this report acknowledges, we cannot do this alone. /p#13; pIt is time for everyone... to step up to the plate, learn from those areas that are getting it right and show real leadership in stamping out this awful crime./p#13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center