Every woman in my immediate family has suffered abuse

I had failed to protect her. I felt responsible, hurt, confused, angry and sad (Picture: Getty Images)

My daughter, Jessica* was first catcalled at the age of 12. 

The culprits were workmen on a building site. When she called to tell me what had happened, I was angry and hurt; but beyond both, I was in disbelief that my little girl was already being sexually harassed.

A few years later, she was approached by a grown man who came on to her while she was looking through lip gloss in the make-up aisle at Superdrug.

Aged 15, she was raped.

This time the assailant was a boy who was her ag...