Is there a difference?

Active paedophiles are child sex offenders, but not all child sex offenders meet the clinical mental health definition for paedophilia. Paedophilia is “a psychosexual disorder, generally affecting adults, characterised by exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children”.

Some child sex offenders will abuse children opportunistically but are not exclusively or primarily interested in sexual gratification with minors. As such they may not meet the definition for being a paedophile.

A Pederast is an adult male who engages in a sexual relationship with a boy. The adult may characterise the relationship as being a “romance” or a mentoring role.  Pederasts may satisfy the clinical definition for paedophilia disorder.  

Child sex offenders can be male or female, but statistically males are the majority.

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably but it is best to apply them correctly to minimise confusion.

Key takeaways:

1. A child can never consent to sex with an adult.
2. An adult maintaining a sexual relationship with a child (a minor) is committing a crime.

An adult maintaining a sexual relationship with a child is a sex offender but may not be diagnosable as a paedophile