ECPAT International, together with The Brave Movement and Together for Girls has issued a powerful open letter urging governments worldwide to abolish statutes of limitations for sexual crimes against children.
Signed by 90 child rights organisations around the world, including World Vision International, Plan International, Family for Every Child, Defence for Children International, Child Helpline International, and ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect), the letter warns that arbitrary legal time limits deny survivors of childhood sexual violence their right to justice and protect perpetrators from accountability.
“No survivor should ever be told that it’s too late to seek justice,” said Guillaume Landry, Executive Director of ECPAT International. “Statutes of limitations on sexual crimes against children silence survivors, shield abusers, and undermine global commitments to children’s rights. Governments must act now to remove these procedural and legal barriers.”
The open letter follows a landmark vote by the European Parliament, which in June 2025 approved the abolition of time limits for prosecuting child sexual abuse and exploitation offences across the EU. Advocates say this sets a critical precedent for global action.
Survivors of sexual abuse often need years, even decades, before they can disclose what happened due to trauma, stigma, and fear. Yet when they finally speak out, too many are met with closed doors because the law prevents legal action.
The coalition calls on all governments to:
“Justice must never expire,” said Landry. “Removing time limits is a vital step towards accountability, healing, and ensuring no perpetrator can hide behind the clock.”
The open letter continues to gather further endorsements from civil society organisations, survivor networks, and advocacy groups worldwide.