Montréal, May 11th, 2026 – Nearly one in three women and one in five men report having experienced at least one instant of sexual abuse before the age of 18. The average age of the first abuse was 11 and a half years old. These are the findings of a survey of 1,000 Quebec adults conducted by Synopsis in November 2025 on behalf of Marie-Vincent and the Marie-Vincent Interuniversity Research Chair in Child Sexual Abuse.
This survey confirms that sexual violence remains far too widespread. It also highlights the fact that it occurs predominantly within the victims’ social circles, a reality that can make it more difficult to disclose the abuse.
In fact, only half of victims disclose the abuse they experienced. When disclosure does occur, it happens in adulthood, on average at age 19, 8 years after the first abuse. This silence has significant consequences and calls for an urgent collective response, especially given that 78% of victims report receiving no professional support following the abuse.
Without appropriate intervention, the consequences can be severe and long-lasting: young victims who have received no support exhibit more symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and dissociation, as well as difficulties with emotional regulation1.
“The work of the Marie-Vincent Chair has confirmed this for the past 20 years: early intervention makes a real difference. Appropriate support can promote the recovery of young victims, and effective prevention programs help facilitate disclosure and build a community that is aware and well-equipped to support children and guide them toward the right resources”, says Martine Hébert, Ph.D., tenured professor in the Department of Sexology at the Université du Québec à Montréal and co-holder of the Research Chair.
For over 20 years, the Marie-Vincent Centre of Expertise has been active on all fronts, supported by its own interuniversity research chair. Each year, it provides specialized clinical services to hundreds of young people and their families at its two centers in Montreal and in Montérégie. It develops prevention programs and offers a wide range of specialized training courses that reach more than 6,000 professionals every year in the health, education, socio-judicial, and community sectors.
Given these findings, it is clear that Marie-Vincent’s mission remains more essential than ever. A pioneer in Quebec, the organization continues to weave a genuine safety net around young people by focusing on collaboration and coordination with numerous partners, for the benefit of the entire community.
To meet the scale of these needs, Marie-Vincent is preparing to launch a major fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $15 million over three years.
“We must act now. Marie-Vincent has shown that with the right services, we can change the course of people’s lives. We want to provide equal and timely access to specialized services, better equip professionals, parents, and communities to recognize and support victims, and help build a Quebec that truly protects its children. This requires strong mobilization and partners and donors committed to standing with us”, says Lisa Clowery, president and CEO of Marie-Vincent.
Marie-Vincent supports children and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence by offering them, under one roof and in collaboration with its partners, the services they need. We help prevent violence by focusing on education and awareness, and by helping children with sexual behavior problems.
To learn more, visit marie-vincent.org/en/
Established in 2005, it is now a national and international leader in the prevention, detection, and intervention for young victims of sexual abuse. Its research directly contributes to Marie-Vincent’s clinical practices and prevention programs, ensuring that every intervention is grounded in the most recent scientific data. The Chair also contributes to the training of the next generation of specialized clinicians and researchers.
Mégane Roy-Blanchette
mroy-blanchette@exponentiel.ca
450-578-1623
Walid Benahmed
Organizational Communications Advisor
514-226-0214
