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What is harmful sexual behaviour?

Harmful sexual behaviour involves sexual acts that have a lack of informed consent, involve the use of force or coercion, include inequalities such as knowledge, intellectual functioning, power/authority, physical size differences and emotional development.

What is concerning sexual behaviour?

The sexualised behaviour appears to be outside the normal range for children/adolescents, the sexual behaviour is not experienced as mutual and there is a willingness to curtail their behaviour with guidance. There are many complexities around this and case by case, contexual considerations are important.

Established in 1988 as an Incorporated Society, Stop has been committed to preventing sexual harm and delivering a service to people across Te Waipounamu, the South Island that would not have had access to support to address harmful sexual behaviours and thoughts.  Stop partners with agencies in the North Island: Wellstop (based in Wellington and covering the lower North Island) and Safe (based in Auckland and covering the upper North Island).

Stop provides community-based assessment and intervention services for adolescents and adults who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour and for children with concerning sexual behaviours. 

For over 30 years we have supported people to stop engaging in concerning or harmful sexual behaviour.