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5 WAVES
Confronting and Healing
Sibling Sexual Trauma
Worldwide
Awareness,
Voice,
Education &
Support
3 out of 4 professionals report little or no training in sibling sexual abuse or trauma
1 in 25
Children
An estimated 80 million children worldwide have experienced sibling sexual trauma or abuse
9 in 10
Don't Tell
88% don't tell anyone till adulthood, if they ever tell at all
Adults struggle to identify and respond appropriately
See What Do We Know for more details and information.
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Sibling sexual trauma is real. It happens in all types of families. In fact, it is one of the most common forms of child sexual abuse both in the US and worldwide.
What is 5WAVES?
5WAVES is a US-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting Worldwide Awareness, Voice, Education and Support around Sibling Sexual Trauma--the ongoing effects of one sibling's harmful or abusive sexual behavior toward another.​​​​
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We are creating waves of change in a variety of ways, including:
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Speaking out, on the TED stage, social media, podcasts, conferences
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Conducting and facilitating research to add to the knowledge base around sibling sexual abuse and trauma
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Educating both the public and professionals, through our websites, flyers, and trainings
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Highlighting voices of lived experience through our blog and social media
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Hosting and participating in online peer support groups for those who have been personally affected by sibling sexual trauma
Mission:
5WAVES is devoted to confronting and healing sibling sexual trauma caused by sibling sexual abuse through worldwide awareness, voice, education, research, and support.
Vision:
To become the leading global nonprofit centered around the voices of lived experience to help significantly reduce the worldwide incidence of sibling sexual abuse and the secondary trauma that follows.
Why 5WAVES?
The stigma and silence surrounding SST is so great that there is very little information or resources available to support those who are affected by it. The greatest tragedy is that this silence allows sibling sexual trauma to continue unabated.
5WAVES was founded by five women in five different time zones. As survivors and parents, they each found themselves utterly alone for years and even decades, as they faced the effects of sibling sexual trauma (SST) on their lives and families. When they did find each other, they resolved to work together to break through the dark shadows of this silent epidemic, and 5WAVES was born.
Since 2021, 5WAVES has been connecting and collaborating worldwide to shatter the silence around sibling sexual abuse and trauma. We are working to ensure that others facing this multifaceted trauma will have access to support and know that they are not alone. Inspired by the vision of these five women, 5WAVES is creating waves of change, to bring sibling sexual trauma out of the shadows so people around the world can talk about it, heal from it, and prevent it.
News & Opportunities
This report, authored by Elly Hanson of the NSPCC, is a carefully researched and highly readable summary of what we know, and don't know, about how to respond after sibling sexual harm or abuse.
5WAVES is excited to announce that we are partnering with Thriving Survivors of Scotland to bring the first in-peron conference devoted exclusively to sibling sexual abuse and trauma to the US! We are targeting an event in New York City in summer 2026.
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For ongoing information and event updates, fill the form below and select the box to subscribe to our monthly email updates.
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If you are interested in participating in the planning of this groundbreaking conference, please email info@5waves.org, with "conference" in the subject line.
This survey is still live and accepting responses. Work will begin soon on the next publication, so if you are a parent and have not participated yet, this is a great time to do so and have your voice heard!
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The first results from this research survey have now been published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect: "The parental experience and emotional response to sibling sexual abuse". The project is a collaboration between 5WAVES and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Get In Touch
Information provided by 5WAVES ("we," "us," "our") and 5WAVES.org (the "Site") is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site.
The Site strives to bring together critical information from reputable sources, with references, to guide others on their path of coping, decision-making, and healing after sibling sexual trauma. The Site offers NO legal advice and NO medical or mental health advice. Any legal questions or decisions should be made in consultation with your own legal counsel. Any medical and mental health decisions should be made in consultation with your physician or mental health practitioner. 5WAVES, 5WAVES.org and Siblingsexualtrauma.com, along with the creators and contributors of the sites, fully disclaim any and all liability in connection with the content of the sites.