Child sexual exploitation and abuse online: Survivors’ Perspectives

Over the last few years, research about child sexual exploitation and abuse online has received increased attention, particularly as our lives shifted further online during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, opportunities for children to directly contribute to the dialogue on this issue are rare.

To address this, WeProtect Global Alliance, in partnership with ECPAT International and six of its network member organisations, conducted a research project amplifying the voices of survivors of child sexual abuse online. As part of this research, they published the global report “Child sexual exploitation and abuse online: Survivors’ Perspectives”.

This multi-country project took place in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Mexico, Moldova and Peru. It drew on one-on-one conversations with young survivors, a survey with frontline social support workers and a global expert roundtable.

This report aims to amplify the voices of survivors, collect evidence on the availability, quality and effectiveness of support services for survivors, and translate this into recommendations for governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector on how they can provide better prevention, reporting and support mechanisms. 

You can find all the animated videos related to this global report, both in English and in Spanish, here.

See also: Country-level reports on Survivors’ Perspectives

In the months prior to the launch of the global report, WeProtect Global Alliance and ECPAT International published five country-level reports focusing on survivors’ perspectives in Albania, Colombia, Mexico, Moldova and Peru.

  • Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Online: Survivors’ Perspectives in Albania
  • Country report for Albania containing findings from the six-country study of child sexual exploitation and abuse online. This project was a collaboration between ECPAT International and WeProtect Global Alliance to conduct primary research and amplify the perspectives of survivors. Recommendations drawn from the survivors conversations are emphasised.