2008 Photo Contest, Contemporary Issues, 2nd prize
Photographer

Lorena Ros

Panos Pictures

01 January, 2007

Image of a toilet flush mechanism, which triggers Claudia's memories of her sexual abuse. Claudia was four years old when her mother died. She and her sister then spent a year at a relative's house during which time someone close to the family sexually abused her. The last available study, conducted in 1994, indicated that 23 percent of girls and 15 percent of boys under the age of 17 in Spain had been sexually abused. Most abused children will never speak of their experience. As an adult survivor, Claudia believes that disclosing her personal story will contribute to the prevention of future child sex abuse.

About the photographer

Lorena Ros

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