Out of the shadows : re-envisioning the debate on ritual abuse

Presently there is no profession or body of literature with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of multiperpetrator child sexual abuse in developed nations. In the absence of an established discourse, some survivors of multiperpetrator abuse and their advocates have developed the language of "ritual abuse" to articulate their experiences and generate new models of care and self-management. The initial focus of ritual abuse discourse was on ritualistic forms of multiperpetrator abuse. Over time, "ritual abuse" has developed into a category of abuse that encompasses diverse forms of sexual violence that have been marginalised by mainstream debates on child abuse.