IF PARENTS communicated freely with their children on sexual issues it might help curb abuse.

Lynne Cawood of Childline - a nonprofit organisation that works collectively to protect children from violence and to create a culture of children's rights - said: "When sexual abuse happens, parents tend to blame themselves. The reality is that the only person who has to be blamed is the offender."

Cawood was speaking in response to a report that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested for raping his three children, two of them aged four and the other six.

Cawood said parents have to be as honest as possible when talking to their children about sex issues.

"As soon as a child starts asking where they come from, parents need to be as honest as possible with them. This is when they also have to explain to their children about sexual abuse.

"Children need to know that there are good and bad secrets. It is a good secret not to telly mommy what you are getting her for her birthday. But it is a bad secret when someone hurts you."

She said usually, sexual molesters who are family members groomed the children (for abuse).