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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
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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What is 5WAVES?
5WAVES is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting Worldwide Awareness, Voice, Education and Support around Sibling Sexual Trauma--child sexual abuse caused by a sibling. The founders of 5WAVES are five women in five different time zones, working to break through the dark shadows of a silent epidemic. 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. 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.
And yet...
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. Since October 2021, 5WAVES has been connecting and collaborating worldwide to shatter the silence around sibling-caused sexual harm. They are working to ensure that others facing this multifaceted trauma will have access to support and know that they are not alone. These five women are 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.
All are welcome to participate in Blue Borage's Conversation Cafe. Join 5WAVES' cofounders Jane Epstein and Maria Socolof, along with collaborators Alice Perle and Diane Tarantini, who will discuss their memoirs, answer questions, and lead the group in courageous conversation. Registration is required. ​ There is a fee to attend, to offset expenses of hosting. Select the "lived experience donation option" if you have experienced SSA yourself or within your family and would like to join for a donation of your choosing.
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 were published this month 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.