Many kids aged 16 and 17 are lured by family members into sexual contact with adults.

The disclosure comes in a report which lays bare the extent of child abuse -- and Bermuda's powerlessness to tackle it.

One in ten secondary school students claim an adult has tried to touch their sexual organs, according to a survey.

And three in five say those who try to get them to touch an adult sexually are family members.

The survey by Walton Brown Jr., of Research Innovations Ltd, targeted those in their final year at secondary school.

Its findings are in the long-awaited report by the Government-appointed Task Force on Child Abuse.

And, according to the Task Force, they should sound alarm bells throughout Bermuda.

"These results indicate that a serious problem of child abuse does indeed exist in Bermuda, much of it within the home environment.'' The report is scathing about the ability of Government and community-based services to combat child abuse.

"At present there is no formalised commitment to or mandate to ensure prevention and treatment services. This had been left up to the goodwill of helping professionals.

"This has resulted in a failure to identify, initiate and co-ordinate key prevention strategies and failure to harness community energies in reducing this community problem.'' Poor staffing and insensitivity among child care professionals -- including the Police -- are also spotlighted.

And the Island's medical and hospital services come under pressure to boost assessment of child sexual abuse victims.

"The Task Force urges those persons and agencies in Bermuda who are charged with the responsibility of dealing with this issue to read the survey in its entirety in order to assess the true magnitude thereof.'' It adds: "Only with a multi-pronged approach to child abuse encompassing prevention, intervention and treatment, with a pyramid of services to support this effort, can we hope to eradicate child abuse.

The 52 recommendations include: Sweeping away the The Protection of Children Act 1943, and replacing it with The Children Act 1989 of the United Kingdom; Banning corporal punishment from all schools -- Government and private -- and from centres providing care for youngsters; Bringing in laws to allow the evidence of a child at a preliminary hearing to be video-taped and made admissible at trial; Amending the Evidence Act 1905, thus removing a need for corroboration in court of a child's unsworn testimony; Compelling child care professionals to report to the Department of Child and Family Services when they suspect abuse; Providing extra social work staff in Family Services -- and training them to be sensitive; Hiring additional staff in Child and Family Services, Child and Adolescent Services, and Community and Juvenile Services Department; The Attorney General appointing an experienced and specially trained Crown Counsel to deal with matters relating to children; The AG developing a child witness preparation programme such as those in other Countries, and reviewing all laws affecting youngsters; and A Prison Services programme for the treatment and rehabilitation of those convicted of offences against children.

The Task Force on Child Abuse was appointed in November 1993 by then Social Services Minister Quinton Edness.

It was headed by lawyer and ex-Attorney General Saul Froomkin. Psychologist and Senator, Norma Astwood, was Deputy Chairperson.

Among other members were June Hill, chief of paediatrics at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital; Chief Inspector Vic Richmond; Joeann Smith, Senior Education Officer for Student Services, Department of Education; and Luelle Todd, Child and Family Services director.

The Task Force agreed a "child'' was a person who had not reached 18.

Yesterday, Acting Social Services Minister Quinton Edness said the report would have far-reaching effects on the quality of care for abused kids.

And he congratulated those who had produced it.

"The Ministry will be studying the report in detail during the summer months, and will no doubt give an indication to the legislature in November as to how those concerned intend to proceed.'' At the beginning of its 57-page report, the Task Force said it was not possible to accurately assess the extent of physical, emotional or sexual abuse in Bermuda.

Report paints a bleak picture From Page 1 "What is known, however, is that there is a significant amount of child abuse in Bermuda.'' Statistics from Walton Brown's 1995 secondary school survey are highlighted.

These reveal one in four students claim an adult has hit or kicked them, causing bruising.

And one in two report being struck with an object by an adult.

In addition, one in five females say an adult has touched their private parts or other areas in a sexual manner. And one in 12 students have had sex with adults.

The Task Force recommends a similar survey be done in five years, and periodically thereafter.

It also suggests a body be set up for keeping child abuse statistics.

During its probe, the Task Force heard horrifying testimony from child abuse victims.

This spotlighted the appalling legacy of abuse, including depression.

"In almost every instance, the reported victimisation was the result of overt sexual intercourse by an adult male towards a female child.

"Most of the experiences occurred before the young person had reached adolescence and took place in the victim's home environment.'' The report added: "One young woman reported that her step-father sexually exploited her when her mother left home in the evening to go to work, leaving the children's father in charge.

"The father put the younger children to bed and then sexually exploited the oldest child.

"That victim told us that she is now experiencing difficulty maintaining a healthy sexual relationship with her spouse, is depressed, is over-protective of her own children; and feels threatened by her own daughter's approach to adolescence. She attributes this to the sexual abuse she experienced in childhood.

"For many of the adults who appeared before the Task Force in private hearings, depression continues to be a major problem.

"Victims told the Task Force that treatment was often unavailable when they felt they most needed it.

"Information provided to the Task Force showed that alcoholism and narcotics use appears to play a significant role in child abuse.'' The report says three school counsellors -- who appeared before the Task Force -- pointed out many of Bermuda's abused children lived with drug-taking parents in "dysfunctional'' home environments.

The report says that between January and June 1994 Family Services and the Police were involved in 39 investigations -- 30 were sexual abuse cases and nine involved physical abuse.

As of July 1, 1994, Family Services began to computerise known cases and new referrals.

"The incidence of high risk cases has increased over the last five years, with referrals for sexual abuse almost doubling, and neglect referrals increasing by 66 percent.

"By 1993, Family Services had six social workers on staff and three social work aides and the referrals had almost doubled.

"Child abuse is a complex phenomenon and strategies to eradicate abuse of children in this community must be comprehensive with a focus on prevention, intervention and treatment.

"To date Bermuda's efforts have been directed at intervention. No agency or organisation has been mandated to ensure that effective strategies are implemented to prevent child abuse or that affordable treatment is available for both victim and perpetrator.'' The report underlines apparent shortcomings with Government and community-based services. These include: Insufficient social work staff to investigate and intervene in child abuse referrals; Lack of support and follow-up services for parents whose children are subject of an investigation; The Department of Child and Family Services' policy of not remunerating relatives to provide care and protection of an abused child; and A dearth of foster parents trained to respond to the challenges of abused children.

"Bermuda's response to the treatment needs of victims (children and families) and perpetrators is spread across several Government agencies and the private sector. It is a fragmented service.'' The report says the Police has improved its response to child abuse.

But it adds: "There is, in the view of the Task Force, room for further improvement in several areas.

"The Task Force has heard several complaints about the Police during their two years of hearings and deliberations.'' Among the complaints are insensitivity; lack of follow-up procedures in keeping complainants informed of the progress of investigations; the long time of inquiries; and insufficient staff with specialised experience.

The report turns the spotlight on the Attorney Generals' Chambers.

It states prosecutors need to be trained in child abuse matters. And it calls for laws on child abuse to be updated.

"The Task Force heard much critical comment relating to the role of the Attorney General's Chambers in child abuse matters, particularly from the Coalition For The Protection of Children and the parents of victims of alleged child abuse.

"The perception is that unless there is a 99.9 percent guarantee of conviction, the Crown will not prosecute and, as a result, in many cases an offender who is likely to, or may, plead guilty to child abuse charges is never put in court and gets off `scot-free'.'' The Prison Service comes under piercing scrutiny, too.

"It became apparent to the members of the Task Force ... that the facilities of the Prison Service were woefully inadequate as regards the treatment and rehabilitation of those incarcerated as a result of their abusing children.'' The report goes on to call for medical and hospital services to improve their assessment of child sexual abuse victims.

"At present, a limited number of physicians are competent in this area.'' The report also touches on private services for treating child abuse.

"In spite of a large and varied level of services available to adults, the services available specifically to children are limited.

"There was a limited response to the Task Force from mental health professionals in private practice.'' The report continues by demanding the repeal of The 1943 Protection of Children Act.

"The Task Force agrees that the said statute is antiquated and is no longer responsive to the needs of the community, and accordingly must be addressed in that light.

"There are only two practical alternatives, namely wholesale amendments to the present statute, or enacting a new Act.

"The Task Force is strongly of the view that a patchwork approach to amending the existing Act would not be in the best interest of those affected thereby.

The 1943 Act is based upon old philosophy and strategy, is cumbersome and ineffectual.

"Accordingly the repeal of the Act, and its substitution by a new Act, based on current thinking and adapting modern practices, is the only sensible approach.'' The report says The Children Act 1989 (UK) is based upon the philosophy that `the child's welfare shall be the Court's paramount consideration'.

"The Task Force unhesitatingly accepts that that philosophy must in fact be the criterion upon which any legislation affecting children ought to be based.'' It also expresses concern at the "inadequacy'' of Public Health (Day Nurseries and Nursery Schools) Regulations, 1978.

It points out there is no bar against convicted criminals being employed at nursery schools.

The Task Force is particularly severe on corporal punishment.

"Although corporal punishment has been denigrated by virtually all professionals, has been abolished in most civilised countries including the United Kingdom, and has been declared by the International Court of Human Rights, to be cruel and unusual punishment, this brutal activity is not only condoned in Bermuda ... but is, according to the evidence presented to us, regularly employed.''