Public Opinion is Clear: Urgent Legislation Required to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation! Read the story

What Can You Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online?

Protecting Children Online: Exploring the Tactic of Prevention

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The online world is moving fast. In the last three decades, our lives have transformed beyond recognition. From days when we were connecting online from old-LAN computers and cell phones, we now find ourselves immersed in an uncontrolled digital revolution, with Artificial Intelligence and the realms of the Metaverse knocking at our screens.

Yet, as our digital world expands, so do its challenges. Beneath the wonders of the online world lies a darker reality, which contains new forms of dangers such as identity theft, data breaches, violence and discrimination. Worst among these harms, child sexual abuse and exploitation is increasing and evolving every year.

As the digital world hasn’t been designed with child safety in mind, we must do everything we can to patch up this flaw.

Take a Stand for Child Safety Online!

Child sexual abuse and exploitation is happening online, often out of our sight, but with real consequences for the children around us. To prevent harm, it is essential to comprehend the workings of the online world and implement measures that safeguard children from online sexual abuse—without resorting to a complete prohibition of internet access or other restrictive measures. It’s about knowing and using a range of methods and tools to both protect and empower children in their digital lives.  

Preventing harm online requires a mix of solutions, including being aware of the issue and its risks, ensuring professional training, listening openly to children’s experiences online, and using technological tools to protect children online. 

Scroll Down to Learn how to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online!

With a focus on the tools to prevent child sexual abuse online, ECPAT calls on government officials, tech companies, professionals, and caregivers to unite and activate on this issue. How? The answers lie in becoming aware of the risks and manifestations of child sexual abuse online and learn which tools are available to fight this horrendous crime. It’s a collective responsibility to educate ourselves and act, ensuring children benefit from the internet and are protected from harm.  

It’s time to break the silence and protect children online. Together, we can create a digital landscape where children thrive in safety, free from the shadows that threaten their well-being.

Take Action Now and Learn How to Protect Children Online!

Interview: Child Rights organisations support the EU Proposal to Prevent and Combat Online Child Sexual Abuse

ECPAT International’s opinion on the topic of child sexual abuse online and the European Commission’s proposal to Combat and Prevent Child Sexual Abuse online. Interview broadcasted in the German MDR/AR media journal.

Listen to the interview.

in September 2022

Available in: German

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Gender, Safety, and Help-Seeking Behaviours in Online Gaming Environments – Brief Paper

This brief summarises a June 2024 workshop hosted by ECPAT International, bringing together child rights representatives, researchers, and online gaming companies to discuss gender, safety, and help-seeking behaviours in online environments. Emphasising the value of collaborative spaces, participants explored challenges, identified gaps, and proposed key actions to ensure gender-sensitive children’s safety in online gaming environments. The discussions left participants motivated to pursue future actions by leveraging diverse expertise for the benefit of children’s online safety.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: English

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Analyse Situationnelle De L’exploitation Sexuelle Des Enfants Dans Le Contexte Des Voyages Et Des Transports Au Burkina Faso

ECPAT International et Association Burkinabè pour la Survie de l’Enfance et Keoogo (Burkina Faso) ont exploré la question de l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants dans le contexte du voyage et du transport par le biais d’une recherche visant à documenter la connaissance et la compréhension locales de la question dans le pays, à évaluer les pratiques et à identifier les réponses locales. Les résultats de cette recherche sont consolidés dans le présent document d’analyse de la situation et serviront de base à l’action de plaidoyer du projet.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: French

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Analyse Situationnelle De L’exploitation Sexuelle Des Enfants Dans Le Contexte Des Voyages Et Des Transports en Guinée

ECPAT International et Monde Des Enfants (Guinée) ont exploré la question de l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants dans le contexte du voyage et du transport par le biais d’une recherche visant à documenter la connaissance et la compréhension locales de la question dans le pays, à évaluer les pratiques et à identifier les réponses locales. Les résultats de cette recherche sont consolidés dans le présent document d’analyse de la situation et serviront de base à l’action de plaidoyer du projet.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: French

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Executive Summary – VOICE Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences

Ensuring children’s safety online is crucial in the digital age, demanding a thorough understanding of children’s perspectives and needs. The executive summary of the VOICE project, a collaboration between ECPAT International, Eurochild, and Terre des Hommes Netherlands under the Down to Zero Alliance, provides quick access to the research findings from the VOICE Report “Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences.” It calls for immediate action and advocacy to implement robust safety measures and actively involve children in shaping online safety policies.

by ECPAT International, Eurochild, Terre Des Hommes Netherlands in 2024

Available in: Bengali, Croatian, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai