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A Vision To Zero:
A Roadmap to Ending Childhood Sexual Violence
A Vision To Zero:
A Roadmap to Ending Childhood Sexual Violence
A Vision To Zero:
A Roadmap to Ending Childhood Sexual Violence
A Vision To Zero:
A Roadmap to Ending Childhood Sexual Violence
January 2025
Our report can be viewed in full on this page. You can also download a PDF version if you prefer using the download button below.
Foreword
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience some form of childhood sexual violence (CSV) growing up. This is unacceptable because we know that childhood sexual violence (CSV) is preventable and that we can and will prevent it.
Foreword
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience some form of childhood sexual violence (CSV) growing up. This is unacceptable because we know that childhood sexual violence (CSV) is preventable and that we can and will prevent it.
Foreword
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience some form of childhood sexual violence (CSV) growing up. This is unacceptable because we know that childhood sexual violence (CSV) is preventable and that we can and will prevent it.
Foreword
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience some form of childhood sexual violence (CSV) growing up. This is unacceptable because we know that childhood sexual violence (CSV) is preventable and that we can and will prevent it.
To Zero began with a bold ambition and a simple premise. We want a world where all children can grow up free from the threat of sexual violence. And we believe that by coming together to build a shared vision of that future, we will be able to more effectively realise that vision.
Yet, despite the heroic, and often unsung, efforts of so many exceptional leaders and committed actors in our field and the growing evidence base of what works, this issue can continue to attract a sense of fatalism and taboo, too often remaining in the shadows. And we know, as a field, our response can at times be fragmented.
Now is the time to change this sense of fatalism, to reject the stigma associated with childhood sexual violence and to come together to build a pathway to the future. Childhood sexual violence is preventable and, by working collectively and by pressurising and incentivizing others such as government, industry and institutions, we can and will prevent it.
And so, it is with pride and gratitude that we present this report, which captures the outcomes of our 18-month visioning process. Throughout the process, we have been privileged to work with an exceptional group of over 330 leaders from around the globe, including people with lived experience, both disclosed and non-disclosed, and those without. They have lent us their voices, perspectives, and expertise and their contributions have infused this process with depth, diversity, and global relevance.
We have also been privileged and honoured to work alongside our To Zero Champions, whose wisdom and guidance have been invaluable. They have provided us with strategic direction, insight, advice and support throughout. To Lucie Cluver, Daniela Ligiero, Soma Sara, Pooja Taparia, Cornelius Williams, Dalia Hashad, Faith Mwangi-Powell, Naja Carina Steenholdt and Denise Buchanan, our deepest thanks.
On a personal note, I want to thank the inspirational colleagues it has been my pleasure to work with. This has truly been a team effort, and we would not be where we are today without the extraordinary efforts of Tabitha Mpamira, Graham Leicester, Kathleen Cravero, Tanya Beer, Amanda Pierz, Bella Eames-Matthews, Ambika Samarthya-Howard, Shoba Mistry and Brigette De Lay.
And finally, thank you to our visionary funders and supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible: Oak Foundation, The Indigo Trust, Phillips Foundation and Ignite Philanthropy.
This report is a testament to what can be achieved when diverse minds and hearts come together with a shared purpose. It captures not only the outcomes of our visioning process but also the spirit of collaboration and possibility that has defined our work. We hope it serves as both a reflection of our journey and a call to action for the future.
To all who joined us on this path – thank you for your trust, your commitment, and your belief that together we can bring childhood sexual violence to zero.
With gratitude,
Seán Coughlan
Director, To Zero
To Zero began with a bold ambition and a simple premise. We want a world where all children can grow up free from the threat of sexual violence. And we believe that by coming together to build a shared vision of that future, we will be able to more effectively realise that vision.
Yet, despite the heroic, and often unsung, efforts of so many exceptional leaders and committed actors in our field and the growing evidence base of what works, this issue can continue to attract a sense of fatalism and taboo, too often remaining in the shadows. And we know, as a field, our response can at times be fragmented.
Now is the time to change this sense of fatalism, to reject the stigma associated with childhood sexual violence and to come together to build a pathway to the future. Childhood sexual violence is preventable and, by working collectively and by pressurising and incentivizing others such as government, industry and institutions, we can and will prevent it.
And so, it is with pride and gratitude that we present this report, which captures the outcomes of our 18-month visioning process. Throughout the process, we have been privileged to work with an exceptional group of over 330 leaders from around the globe, including people with lived experience, both disclosed and non-disclosed, and those without. They have lent us their voices, perspectives, and expertise and their contributions have infused this process with depth, diversity, and global relevance.
We have also been privileged and honoured to work alongside our To Zero Champions, whose wisdom and guidance have been invaluable. They have provided us with strategic direction, insight, advice and support throughout. To Lucie Cluver, Daniela Ligiero, Soma Sara, Pooja Taparia, Cornelius Williams, Dalia Hashad, Faith Mwangi-Powell, Naja Carina Steenholdt and Denise Buchanan, our deepest thanks.
On a personal note, I want to thank the inspirational colleagues it has been my pleasure to work with. This has truly been a team effort, and we would not be where we are today without the extraordinary efforts of Tabitha Mpamira, Graham Leicester, Kathleen Cravero, Tanya Beer, Amanda Pierz, Bella Eames-Matthews, Ambika Samarthya-Howard, Shoba Mistry and Brigette De Lay.
And finally, thank you to our visionary funders and supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible: Oak Foundation, The Indigo Trust, Phillips Foundation and Ignite Philanthropy.
This report is a testament to what can be achieved when diverse minds and hearts come together with a shared purpose. It captures not only the outcomes of our visioning process but also the spirit of collaboration and possibility that has defined our work. We hope it serves as both a reflection of our journey and a call to action for the future.
To all who joined us on this path – thank you for your trust, your commitment, and your belief that together we can bring childhood sexual violence to zero.
With gratitude,
Seán Coughlan
Director, To Zero
To Zero began with a bold ambition and a simple premise. We want a world where all children can grow up free from the threat of sexual violence. And we believe that by coming together to build a shared vision of that future, we will be able to more effectively realise that vision.
Yet, despite the heroic, and often unsung, efforts of so many exceptional leaders and committed actors in our field and the growing evidence base of what works, this issue can continue to attract a sense of fatalism and taboo, too often remaining in the shadows. And we know, as a field, our response can at times be fragmented.
Now is the time to change this sense of fatalism, to reject the stigma associated with childhood sexual violence and to come together to build a pathway to the future. Childhood sexual violence is preventable and, by working collectively and by pressurising and incentivizing others such as government, industry and institutions, we can and will prevent it.
And so, it is with pride and gratitude that we present this report, which captures the outcomes of our 18-month visioning process. Throughout the process, we have been privileged to work with an exceptional group of over 330 leaders from around the globe, including people with lived experience, both disclosed and non-disclosed, and those without. They have lent us their voices, perspectives, and expertise and their contributions have infused this process with depth, diversity, and global relevance.
We have also been privileged and honoured to work alongside our To Zero Champions, whose wisdom and guidance have been invaluable. They have provided us with strategic direction, insight, advice and support throughout. To Lucie Cluver, Daniela Ligiero, Soma Sara, Pooja Taparia, Cornelius Williams, Dalia Hashad, Faith Mwangi-Powell, Naja Carina Steenholdt and Denise Buchanan, our deepest thanks.
On a personal note, I want to thank the inspirational colleagues it has been my pleasure to work with. This has truly been a team effort, and we would not be where we are today without the extraordinary efforts of Tabitha Mpamira, Graham Leicester, Kathleen Cravero, Tanya Beer, Amanda Pierz, Bella Eames-Matthews, Ambika Samarthya-Howard, Shoba Mistry and Brigette De Lay.
And finally, thank you to our visionary funders and supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible: Oak Foundation, The Indigo Trust, Phillips Foundation and Ignite Philanthropy.
This report is a testament to what can be achieved when diverse minds and hearts come together with a shared purpose. It captures not only the outcomes of our visioning process but also the spirit of collaboration and possibility that has defined our work. We hope it serves as both a reflection of our journey and a call to action for the future.
To all who joined us on this path – thank you for your trust, your commitment, and your belief that together we can bring childhood sexual violence to zero.
With gratitude,
Seán Coughlan
Director, To Zero
To Zero began with a bold ambition and a simple premise. We want a world where all children can grow up free from the threat of sexual violence. And we believe that by coming together to build a shared vision of that future, we will be able to more effectively realise that vision.
Yet, despite the heroic, and often unsung, efforts of so many exceptional leaders and committed actors in our field and the growing evidence base of what works, this issue can continue to attract a sense of fatalism and taboo, too often remaining in the shadows. And we know, as a field, our response can at times be fragmented.
Now is the time to change this sense of fatalism, to reject the stigma associated with childhood sexual violence and to come together to build a pathway to the future. Childhood sexual violence is preventable and, by working collectively and by pressurising and incentivizing others such as government, industry and institutions, we can and will prevent it.
And so, it is with pride and gratitude that we present this report, which captures the outcomes of our 18-month visioning process. Throughout the process, we have been privileged to work with an exceptional group of over 330 leaders from around the globe, including people with lived experience, both disclosed and non-disclosed, and those without. They have lent us their voices, perspectives, and expertise and their contributions have infused this process with depth, diversity, and global relevance.
We have also been privileged and honoured to work alongside our To Zero Champions, whose wisdom and guidance have been invaluable. They have provided us with strategic direction, insight, advice and support throughout. To Lucie Cluver, Daniela Ligiero, Soma Sara, Pooja Taparia, Cornelius Williams, Dalia Hashad, Faith Mwangi-Powell, Naja Carina Steenholdt and Denise Buchanan, our deepest thanks.
On a personal note, I want to thank the inspirational colleagues it has been my pleasure to work with. This has truly been a team effort, and we would not be where we are today without the extraordinary efforts of Tabitha Mpamira, Graham Leicester, Kathleen Cravero, Tanya Beer, Amanda Pierz, Bella Eames-Matthews, Ambika Samarthya-Howard, Shoba Mistry and Brigette De Lay.
And finally, thank you to our visionary funders and supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible: Oak Foundation, The Indigo Trust, Phillips Foundation and Ignite Philanthropy.
This report is a testament to what can be achieved when diverse minds and hearts come together with a shared purpose. It captures not only the outcomes of our visioning process but also the spirit of collaboration and possibility that has defined our work. We hope it serves as both a reflection of our journey and a call to action for the future.
To all who joined us on this path – thank you for your trust, your commitment, and your belief that together we can bring childhood sexual violence to zero.
With gratitude,
Seán Coughlan
Director, To Zero
Getting To Zero
To Zero started the process by commissioning a report to gain a deep understanding of the current landscape. Getting to Zero: A Review of The Evidence To End Childhood Sexual Violence anaylsed historical and current evidence from across the sector. Its goal was to make sure everyone helping to develop the To Zero Vision and Roadmap had access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges at the time of writing and revisions based on feedback from the To Zero community.
Getting To Zero
To Zero started the process by commissioning a report to gain a deep understanding of the current landscape. Getting to Zero: A Review of The Evidence To End Childhood Sexual Violence anaylsed historical and current evidence from across the sector. Its goal was to make sure everyone helping to develop the To Zero Vision and Roadmap had access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges at the time of writing and revisions based on feedback from the To Zero community.
Getting To Zero
To Zero started the process by commissioning a report to gain a deep understanding of the current landscape. Getting to Zero: A Review of The Evidence To End Childhood Sexual Violence anaylsed historical and current evidence from across the sector. Its goal was to make sure everyone helping to develop the To Zero Vision and Roadmap had access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges at the time of writing and revisions based on feedback from the To Zero community.
Getting To Zero
To Zero started the process by commissioning a report to gain a deep understanding of the current landscape. Getting to Zero: A Review of The Evidence To End Childhood Sexual Violence anaylsed historical and current evidence from across the sector. Its goal was to make sure everyone helping to develop the To Zero Vision and Roadmap had access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges at the time of writing and revisions based on feedback from the To Zero community.
Executive summary
To Zero was created to help the global community of individuals and organizations working to end CSV to align around a shared vision, understand the barriers that frustrate progress and help break them down – because we know that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
Executive summary
To Zero was created to help the global community of individuals and organizations working to end CSV to align around a shared vision, understand the barriers that frustrate progress and help break them down – because we know that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
Executive summary
To Zero was created to help the global community of individuals and organizations working to end CSV to align around a shared vision, understand the barriers that frustrate progress and help break them down – because we know that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
Executive summary
To Zero was created to help the global community of individuals and organizations working to end CSV to align around a shared vision, understand the barriers that frustrate progress and help break them down – because we know that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
Having worked with over 330 actors from across the sector for more than 18 months, we know that a shared vision for the field is vital. Such a vision can show how the sector can begin to address the lack of resourcing, and make sure that the right emphasis is placed on longer-term work that addresses root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can achieve by working together more coherently to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
Using the Three Horizons framework, To Zero’s visioning process allowed the sector to create a map of the field and a shared direction of travel. While consensus was not the primary outcome of the process, actors within the sector were united in seeking to create a safe and healthy world for children, adolescents and youth. In such a vision of society, healthy cultures will have effectively normalized conversations around CSV and removed the threat of sexual violence throughout the life course, starting in childhood. Strong systems of governance are dedicated to preventing future incidence of CSV, supporting the healing of CSV survivors and developing a stronger culture of justice and accountability that prioritizes the rights, needs and safety of survivors.
This survivor-centered approach starts with supporting children, adolescents and youth to develop a sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. It ends with strong, sustained policy mechanisms and stringent regulation and oversight that will keep public settings and private companies safe for children, including online environments.
The visioning process also identified the pathways and practical steps that we believe should be prioritized.
Having worked with over 330 actors from across the sector for more than 18 months, we know that a shared vision for the field is vital. Such a vision can show how the sector can begin to address the lack of resourcing, and make sure that the right emphasis is placed on longer-term work that addresses root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can achieve by working together more coherently to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
Using the Three Horizons framework, To Zero’s visioning process allowed the sector to create a map of the field and a shared direction of travel. While consensus was not the primary outcome of the process, actors within the sector were united in seeking to create a safe and healthy world for children, adolescents and youth. In such a vision of society, healthy cultures will have effectively normalized conversations around CSV and removed the threat of sexual violence throughout the life course, starting in childhood. Strong systems of governance are dedicated to preventing future incidence of CSV, supporting the healing of CSV survivors and developing a stronger culture of justice and accountability that prioritizes the rights, needs and safety of survivors.
This survivor-centered approach starts with supporting children, adolescents and youth to develop a sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. It ends with strong, sustained policy mechanisms and stringent regulation and oversight that will keep public settings and private companies safe for children, including online environments.
The visioning process also identified the pathways and practical steps that we believe should be prioritized.
Having worked with over 330 actors from across the sector for more than 18 months, we know that a shared vision for the field is vital. Such a vision can show how the sector can begin to address the lack of resourcing, and make sure that the right emphasis is placed on longer-term work that addresses root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can achieve by working together more coherently to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
Using the Three Horizons framework, To Zero’s visioning process allowed the sector to create a map of the field and a shared direction of travel. While consensus was not the primary outcome of the process, actors within the sector were united in seeking to create a safe and healthy world for children, adolescents and youth. In such a vision of society, healthy cultures will have effectively normalized conversations around CSV and removed the threat of sexual violence throughout the life course, starting in childhood. Strong systems of governance are dedicated to preventing future incidence of CSV, supporting the healing of CSV survivors and developing a stronger culture of justice and accountability that prioritizes the rights, needs and safety of survivors.
This survivor-centered approach starts with supporting children, adolescents and youth to develop a sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. It ends with strong, sustained policy mechanisms and stringent regulation and oversight that will keep public settings and private companies safe for children, including online environments.
The visioning process also identified the pathways and practical steps that we believe should be prioritized.
Having worked with over 330 actors from across the sector for more than 18 months, we know that a shared vision for the field is vital. Such a vision can show how the sector can begin to address the lack of resourcing, and make sure that the right emphasis is placed on longer-term work that addresses root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can achieve by working together more coherently to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
Using the Three Horizons framework, To Zero’s visioning process allowed the sector to create a map of the field and a shared direction of travel. While consensus was not the primary outcome of the process, actors within the sector were united in seeking to create a safe and healthy world for children, adolescents and youth. In such a vision of society, healthy cultures will have effectively normalized conversations around CSV and removed the threat of sexual violence throughout the life course, starting in childhood. Strong systems of governance are dedicated to preventing future incidence of CSV, supporting the healing of CSV survivors and developing a stronger culture of justice and accountability that prioritizes the rights, needs and safety of survivors.
This survivor-centered approach starts with supporting children, adolescents and youth to develop a sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. It ends with strong, sustained policy mechanisms and stringent regulation and oversight that will keep public settings and private companies safe for children, including online environments.
The visioning process also identified the pathways and practical steps that we believe should be prioritized.
Galvanize around six critical themes
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors. In championing for long-term flexible funding for all stakeholders in the CSV field, it is crucial that an equity-based approach to resourcing is used to maintain strong and productive synergies among stakeholders both within and outside the sector.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. This includes shifting from a culture of silence to a culture of celebration for survivor disclosure and storytelling. It means viewing children as people with agency and autonomy, not as the property of their caretakers and communities. It sheds gender stereotypes to embrace diversity and inclusion, supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn. As children’s identity development continues to straddle online and offline public spaces, it is critical that the digital world is treated like other institutional spaces, with strong, coordinated regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance with safe design practices.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing. To effectively cultivate political leaders as champions to end CSV, broad movements and targeted campaigns will need survivor leaders, parents and youth to be trained as effective advocates and to use the power of personal testimony to move decision makers into taking action.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. This means building on our narrow evidence base to ensure that interventions are centered on multiple outcomes that have a systematic and intersectional scope. Locally developed solutions are designed to be scaled and inclusive of groups that have limited inclusion in research studies. This will enhance the breadth and depth of our sector’s knowledge.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective. All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations in this area should be fully and consistently enforced. There is a lot of good work happening in this area, but there is room for improvement. For example, justice systems can reform to become more survivor and child focused, sensitive to trauma and contributors to healing.
Galvanize around six critical themes
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors. In championing for long-term flexible funding for all stakeholders in the CSV field, it is crucial that an equity-based approach to resourcing is used to maintain strong and productive synergies among stakeholders both within and outside the sector.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. This includes shifting from a culture of silence to a culture of celebration for survivor disclosure and storytelling. It means viewing children as people with agency and autonomy, not as the property of their caretakers and communities. It sheds gender stereotypes to embrace diversity and inclusion, supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn. As children’s identity development continues to straddle online and offline public spaces, it is critical that the digital world is treated like other institutional spaces, with strong, coordinated regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance with safe design practices.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing. To effectively cultivate political leaders as champions to end CSV, broad movements and targeted campaigns will need survivor leaders, parents and youth to be trained as effective advocates and to use the power of personal testimony to move decision makers into taking action.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. This means building on our narrow evidence base to ensure that interventions are centered on multiple outcomes that have a systematic and intersectional scope. Locally developed solutions are designed to be scaled and inclusive of groups that have limited inclusion in research studies. This will enhance the breadth and depth of our sector’s knowledge.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective. All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations in this area should be fully and consistently enforced. There is a lot of good work happening in this area, but there is room for improvement. For example, justice systems can reform to become more survivor and child focused, sensitive to trauma and contributors to healing.
Galvanize around six critical themes
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors. In championing for long-term flexible funding for all stakeholders in the CSV field, it is crucial that an equity-based approach to resourcing is used to maintain strong and productive synergies among stakeholders both within and outside the sector.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. This includes shifting from a culture of silence to a culture of celebration for survivor disclosure and storytelling. It means viewing children as people with agency and autonomy, not as the property of their caretakers and communities. It sheds gender stereotypes to embrace diversity and inclusion, supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn. As children’s identity development continues to straddle online and offline public spaces, it is critical that the digital world is treated like other institutional spaces, with strong, coordinated regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance with safe design practices.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing. To effectively cultivate political leaders as champions to end CSV, broad movements and targeted campaigns will need survivor leaders, parents and youth to be trained as effective advocates and to use the power of personal testimony to move decision makers into taking action.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. This means building on our narrow evidence base to ensure that interventions are centered on multiple outcomes that have a systematic and intersectional scope. Locally developed solutions are designed to be scaled and inclusive of groups that have limited inclusion in research studies. This will enhance the breadth and depth of our sector’s knowledge.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective. All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations in this area should be fully and consistently enforced. There is a lot of good work happening in this area, but there is room for improvement. For example, justice systems can reform to become more survivor and child focused, sensitive to trauma and contributors to healing.
Galvanize around six critical themes
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors. In championing for long-term flexible funding for all stakeholders in the CSV field, it is crucial that an equity-based approach to resourcing is used to maintain strong and productive synergies among stakeholders both within and outside the sector.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background. This includes shifting from a culture of silence to a culture of celebration for survivor disclosure and storytelling. It means viewing children as people with agency and autonomy, not as the property of their caretakers and communities. It sheds gender stereotypes to embrace diversity and inclusion, supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn. As children’s identity development continues to straddle online and offline public spaces, it is critical that the digital world is treated like other institutional spaces, with strong, coordinated regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance with safe design practices.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing. To effectively cultivate political leaders as champions to end CSV, broad movements and targeted campaigns will need survivor leaders, parents and youth to be trained as effective advocates and to use the power of personal testimony to move decision makers into taking action.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale. This means building on our narrow evidence base to ensure that interventions are centered on multiple outcomes that have a systematic and intersectional scope. Locally developed solutions are designed to be scaled and inclusive of groups that have limited inclusion in research studies. This will enhance the breadth and depth of our sector’s knowledge.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective. All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations in this area should be fully and consistently enforced. There is a lot of good work happening in this area, but there is room for improvement. For example, justice systems can reform to become more survivor and child focused, sensitive to trauma and contributors to healing.
330+
stakeholders have united for the first time ever to create a global vision to end childhood sexual violence quicker and a roadmap that charts the journey ahead.
330+
stakeholders have united for the first time ever to create a global vision to end childhood sexual violence quicker and a roadmap that charts the journey ahead.
330+
stakeholders have united for the first time ever to create a global vision to end childhood sexual violence quicker and a roadmap that charts the journey ahead.
330+
stakeholders have united for the first time ever to create a global vision to end childhood sexual violence quicker and a roadmap that charts the journey ahead.
Accelerate progress on these six critical themes with proposed Action Accelerators
These are eight concrete examples of actions that, if pursued together by the sector, can deliver real change and accelerate us towards our longer-term goals that will focus on the potential for transformative change in the next five years. Each has a clear windows of opportunity, organizations and people ready and willing to work at scale, and the potential to achieve transformative change.
Transform the narratives around childhood sexual violence by ending the culture of silence and centering prevention.
Galvanize political activism, centering survivors, parents/caregivers, and young people.
Pressure and incentivize institutions to protect children, mitigate harm, and promote prevention, healing and justice.
Support justice systems that center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing.
Pressure and incentivize the tech industry to create safe digital spaces for children.
Enhance strategies to prevent peer-on-peer abuse and other problematic sexual behavior among adolescents and children.
Strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence, including strategies to end it and measures to track progress.
Reshape the funding landscape for childhood sexual violence action, including through stronger advocacy, greater ambition, wider distribution and more money.
Accelerate progress on these six critical themes with proposed Action Accelerators
These are eight concrete examples of actions that, if pursued together by the sector, can deliver real change and accelerate us towards our longer-term goals that will focus on the potential for transformative change in the next five years. Each has a clear windows of opportunity, organizations and people ready and willing to work at scale, and the potential to achieve transformative change.
Transform the narratives around childhood sexual violence by ending the culture of silence and centering prevention.
Galvanize political activism, centering survivors, parents/caregivers, and young people.
Pressure and incentivize institutions to protect children, mitigate harm, and promote prevention, healing and justice.
Support justice systems that center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing.
Pressure and incentivize the tech industry to create safe digital spaces for children.
Enhance strategies to prevent peer-on-peer abuse and other problematic sexual behavior among adolescents and children.
Strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence, including strategies to end it and measures to track progress.
Reshape the funding landscape for childhood sexual violence action, including through stronger advocacy, greater ambition, wider distribution and more money.
Accelerate progress on these six critical themes with proposed Action Accelerators
These are eight concrete examples of actions that, if pursued together by the sector, can deliver real change and accelerate us towards our longer-term goals that will focus on the potential for transformative change in the next five years. Each has a clear windows of opportunity, organizations and people ready and willing to work at scale, and the potential to achieve transformative change.
Transform the narratives around childhood sexual violence by ending the culture of silence and centering prevention.
Galvanize political activism, centering survivors, parents/caregivers, and young people.
Pressure and incentivize institutions to protect children, mitigate harm, and promote prevention, healing and justice.
Support justice systems that center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing.
Pressure and incentivize the tech industry to create safe digital spaces for children.
Enhance strategies to prevent peer-on-peer abuse and other problematic sexual behavior among adolescents and children.
Strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence, including strategies to end it and measures to track progress.
Reshape the funding landscape for childhood sexual violence action, including through stronger advocacy, greater ambition, wider distribution and more money.
Accelerate progress on these six critical themes with proposed Action Accelerators
These are eight concrete examples of actions that, if pursued together by the sector, can deliver real change and accelerate us towards our longer-term goals that will focus on the potential for transformative change in the next five years. Each has a clear windows of opportunity, organizations and people ready and willing to work at scale, and the potential to achieve transformative change.
Transform the narratives around childhood sexual violence by ending the culture of silence and centering prevention.
Galvanize political activism, centering survivors, parents/caregivers, and young people.
Pressure and incentivize institutions to protect children, mitigate harm, and promote prevention, healing and justice.
Support justice systems that center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing.
Pressure and incentivize the tech industry to create safe digital spaces for children.
Enhance strategies to prevent peer-on-peer abuse and other problematic sexual behavior among adolescents and children.
Strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence, including strategies to end it and measures to track progress.
Reshape the funding landscape for childhood sexual violence action, including through stronger advocacy, greater ambition, wider distribution and more money.
Strengthen the field
During our visioning process, stakeholders were asked what was required to realize this collective vision and roadmap. Repeatedly, they expressed the view that we should scale what works now and explore what could work in the future. They also noted that work in this sector relies on investment in the work of individual leaders and civil society organizations and capacity building through specialist training and leadership development. Additionally, strengthening our field’s collaborative infrastructure and campaigning skills to drive narrative change are required to facilitate movement building processes. Finally, there is a need to intensify commitment to addressing root causes of CSV, such as power, profit and intergenerational violence.
Strengthen the field
During our visioning process, stakeholders were asked what was required to realize this collective vision and roadmap. Repeatedly, they expressed the view that we should scale what works now and explore what could work in the future. They also noted that work in this sector relies on investment in the work of individual leaders and civil society organizations and capacity building through specialist training and leadership development. Additionally, strengthening our field’s collaborative infrastructure and campaigning skills to drive narrative change are required to facilitate movement building processes. Finally, there is a need to intensify commitment to addressing root causes of CSV, such as power, profit and intergenerational violence.
Strengthen the field
During our visioning process, stakeholders were asked what was required to realize this collective vision and roadmap. Repeatedly, they expressed the view that we should scale what works now and explore what could work in the future. They also noted that work in this sector relies on investment in the work of individual leaders and civil society organizations and capacity building through specialist training and leadership development. Additionally, strengthening our field’s collaborative infrastructure and campaigning skills to drive narrative change are required to facilitate movement building processes. Finally, there is a need to intensify commitment to addressing root causes of CSV, such as power, profit and intergenerational violence.
Strengthen the field
During our visioning process, stakeholders were asked what was required to realize this collective vision and roadmap. Repeatedly, they expressed the view that we should scale what works now and explore what could work in the future. They also noted that work in this sector relies on investment in the work of individual leaders and civil society organizations and capacity building through specialist training and leadership development. Additionally, strengthening our field’s collaborative infrastructure and campaigning skills to drive narrative change are required to facilitate movement building processes. Finally, there is a need to intensify commitment to addressing root causes of CSV, such as power, profit and intergenerational violence.
A call to action
We know that a vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What we need now is commitment. Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
We need media and other stakeholders to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice. And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts.
We will continue to work in two key areas:
Strengthening relationships among actors in the field.
Fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
A call to action
We know that a vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What we need now is commitment. Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
We need media and other stakeholders to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice. And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts.
We will continue to work in two key areas:
Strengthening relationships among actors in the field.
Fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
A call to action
We know that a vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What we need now is commitment. Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
We need media and other stakeholders to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice. And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts.
We will continue to work in two key areas:
Strengthening relationships among actors in the field.
Fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
A call to action
We know that a vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What we need now is commitment. Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
We need media and other stakeholders to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice. And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts.
We will continue to work in two key areas:
Strengthening relationships among actors in the field.
Fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities.
Introduction
A deeply passionate and diverse community
All of us in our sector are committed to the goal of ending childhood sexual violence (CSV). We know that it is preventable and that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
To Zero was created to help the sector align around a shared vision of that future, to understand the barriers that frustrate progress and to help break them down. After spending eighteen months engaged with actors across the sector, we know that – working together – it is possible to end childhood sexual violence. And there is a determination to make it happen.
A deeply passionate and diverse community
All of us in our sector are committed to the goal of ending childhood sexual violence (CSV). We know that it is preventable and that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
To Zero was created to help the sector align around a shared vision of that future, to understand the barriers that frustrate progress and to help break them down. After spending eighteen months engaged with actors across the sector, we know that – working together – it is possible to end childhood sexual violence. And there is a determination to make it happen.
A deeply passionate and diverse community
All of us in our sector are committed to the goal of ending childhood sexual violence (CSV). We know that it is preventable and that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
To Zero was created to help the sector align around a shared vision of that future, to understand the barriers that frustrate progress and to help break them down. After spending eighteen months engaged with actors across the sector, we know that – working together – it is possible to end childhood sexual violence. And there is a determination to make it happen.
A deeply passionate and diverse community
All of us in our sector are committed to the goal of ending childhood sexual violence (CSV). We know that it is preventable and that practical, scalable solutions exist that can break the cycle of child abuse.
To Zero was created to help the sector align around a shared vision of that future, to understand the barriers that frustrate progress and to help break them down. After spending eighteen months engaged with actors across the sector, we know that – working together – it is possible to end childhood sexual violence. And there is a determination to make it happen.
Aligning around a shared vision
To Zero has worked primarily with civil society organizations, to strengthen shared purpose and identity in the sector and to align around more effective, and better supported, collaborative action.
This report is written with a particular focus on those organizations and associated practitioners – as a view of the field seen from within the field. It offers a vision, a road map and an invitation: to innovate, to learn from each other and to find new ways to work together more effectively to harness a collective power to achieve lasting change.
Clearly, given the complexity of the issues involved, civil society organizations alone cannot end childhood sexual violence. Other powerful actors need to play their part, in common with all of us as concerned citizens supportive of children’s wellbeing. This report is for those audiences too.
We acknowledge the deeper structural and societal forces in play. Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence. The most obvious is the shame and stigma placed on survivors of CSV, which protects adult perpetrators at the expense of children’s wellbeing. Other sociocultural factors, such as negative gender norms, patriarchy and adultism, tell survivors to carry their experiences silently. All of this feeds into the belief that childhood sexual violence is inevitable – a view we’re here to challenge.
Aligning around a shared vision
To Zero has worked primarily with civil society organizations, to strengthen shared purpose and identity in the sector and to align around more effective, and better supported, collaborative action.
This report is written with a particular focus on those organizations and associated practitioners – as a view of the field seen from within the field. It offers a vision, a road map and an invitation: to innovate, to learn from each other and to find new ways to work together more effectively to harness a collective power to achieve lasting change.
Clearly, given the complexity of the issues involved, civil society organizations alone cannot end childhood sexual violence. Other powerful actors need to play their part, in common with all of us as concerned citizens supportive of children’s wellbeing. This report is for those audiences too.
We acknowledge the deeper structural and societal forces in play. Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence. The most obvious is the shame and stigma placed on survivors of CSV, which protects adult perpetrators at the expense of children’s wellbeing. Other sociocultural factors, such as negative gender norms, patriarchy and adultism, tell survivors to carry their experiences silently. All of this feeds into the belief that childhood sexual violence is inevitable – a view we’re here to challenge.
Aligning around a shared vision
To Zero has worked primarily with civil society organizations, to strengthen shared purpose and identity in the sector and to align around more effective, and better supported, collaborative action.
This report is written with a particular focus on those organizations and associated practitioners – as a view of the field seen from within the field. It offers a vision, a road map and an invitation: to innovate, to learn from each other and to find new ways to work together more effectively to harness a collective power to achieve lasting change.
Clearly, given the complexity of the issues involved, civil society organizations alone cannot end childhood sexual violence. Other powerful actors need to play their part, in common with all of us as concerned citizens supportive of children’s wellbeing. This report is for those audiences too.
We acknowledge the deeper structural and societal forces in play. Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence. The most obvious is the shame and stigma placed on survivors of CSV, which protects adult perpetrators at the expense of children’s wellbeing. Other sociocultural factors, such as negative gender norms, patriarchy and adultism, tell survivors to carry their experiences silently. All of this feeds into the belief that childhood sexual violence is inevitable – a view we’re here to challenge.
Aligning around a shared vision
To Zero has worked primarily with civil society organizations, to strengthen shared purpose and identity in the sector and to align around more effective, and better supported, collaborative action.
This report is written with a particular focus on those organizations and associated practitioners – as a view of the field seen from within the field. It offers a vision, a road map and an invitation: to innovate, to learn from each other and to find new ways to work together more effectively to harness a collective power to achieve lasting change.
Clearly, given the complexity of the issues involved, civil society organizations alone cannot end childhood sexual violence. Other powerful actors need to play their part, in common with all of us as concerned citizens supportive of children’s wellbeing. This report is for those audiences too.
We acknowledge the deeper structural and societal forces in play. Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence. The most obvious is the shame and stigma placed on survivors of CSV, which protects adult perpetrators at the expense of children’s wellbeing. Other sociocultural factors, such as negative gender norms, patriarchy and adultism, tell survivors to carry their experiences silently. All of this feeds into the belief that childhood sexual violence is inevitable – a view we’re here to challenge.
Unlocking sustained funding
Within the sector dedicated to ending childhood sexual violence we find individuals and organizations across the world already doing brilliant work. However, more resources are needed to enable stronger action. There is limited public funding to support organizations’ work and a lack of flexible, private funding to support innovation and further global, intersectional progress. There is a particular need for more support for work on prevention.
The resource challenge is magnified by a lack of political will, with governments and decision-makers reluctant to commit the long-term resources and funding needed. Societal change is hard to measure within a typical electoral term. This makes governments less willing to tackle the issue – even though voters and officials across the political spectrum almost unanimously agree it must end. Politicians may feel that how to end CSV is too unclear and hard to track. But we increasingly know what works and what doesn’t, and on that basis can offer them the confidence to convert their concern into action.
Unlocking sustained funding
Within the sector dedicated to ending childhood sexual violence we find individuals and organizations across the world already doing brilliant work. However, more resources are needed to enable stronger action. There is limited public funding to support organizations’ work and a lack of flexible, private funding to support innovation and further global, intersectional progress. There is a particular need for more support for work on prevention.
The resource challenge is magnified by a lack of political will, with governments and decision-makers reluctant to commit the long-term resources and funding needed. Societal change is hard to measure within a typical electoral term. This makes governments less willing to tackle the issue – even though voters and officials across the political spectrum almost unanimously agree it must end. Politicians may feel that how to end CSV is too unclear and hard to track. But we increasingly know what works and what doesn’t, and on that basis can offer them the confidence to convert their concern into action.
Unlocking sustained funding
Within the sector dedicated to ending childhood sexual violence we find individuals and organizations across the world already doing brilliant work. However, more resources are needed to enable stronger action. There is limited public funding to support organizations’ work and a lack of flexible, private funding to support innovation and further global, intersectional progress. There is a particular need for more support for work on prevention.
The resource challenge is magnified by a lack of political will, with governments and decision-makers reluctant to commit the long-term resources and funding needed. Societal change is hard to measure within a typical electoral term. This makes governments less willing to tackle the issue – even though voters and officials across the political spectrum almost unanimously agree it must end. Politicians may feel that how to end CSV is too unclear and hard to track. But we increasingly know what works and what doesn’t, and on that basis can offer them the confidence to convert their concern into action.
Unlocking sustained funding
Within the sector dedicated to ending childhood sexual violence we find individuals and organizations across the world already doing brilliant work. However, more resources are needed to enable stronger action. There is limited public funding to support organizations’ work and a lack of flexible, private funding to support innovation and further global, intersectional progress. There is a particular need for more support for work on prevention.
The resource challenge is magnified by a lack of political will, with governments and decision-makers reluctant to commit the long-term resources and funding needed. Societal change is hard to measure within a typical electoral term. This makes governments less willing to tackle the issue – even though voters and officials across the political spectrum almost unanimously agree it must end. Politicians may feel that how to end CSV is too unclear and hard to track. But we increasingly know what works and what doesn’t, and on that basis can offer them the confidence to convert their concern into action.
A window of opportunity for action
Actors in the field are making exciting progress and many feel hopeful about what they can achieve. Survivors have long been seen as powerful leaders, illuminating the personal impact of CSV and fighting for a future without it. Together with other stakeholders, they have leveraged movements and conversations around childhood mental health, racial justice and women’s rights to show we can challenge inequalities, injustices and abuse that often seem like unfortunate, but inevitable, facts of human society.
Society is shifting. The first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children which took place in Bogotá, Colombia in November 2024, represented a significant moment: demonstrating rising global awareness of the challenge and a new, global commitment to re-imagine a world safe for all children.
Whilst acknowledging that we still have a long way to go, there are many reasons to feel positive and hopeful about our sector’s collective power to end CSV:
Organizations across the sector want to find ways to work more effectively together.
There’s increasing awareness of CSV across other sectors, such as education, climate, health, justice and technology, opening avenues for collaboration.
We have better evidence on effective interventions to end childhood sexual violence, particularly around the following:
strategies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
prevention of online sexual violence;
prevention of abuse behaviors;
emerging prevalence rates of CSV against boys and girls; and
specific circumstances of children with disabilities, or those living in or fleeing from conflict zones.
The sector has also made great progress in showing how evidence supports real-world actions, using it to galvanize national decision-makers and mobilize donors to support effective work.
Attention has shifted to focus on the dynamics of scaling interventions and building research infrastructure to support current and future work in more sustainable ways.
The potential of this moment, and the moral imperative to stop childhood sexual violence, is what drives us at To Zero.
A window of opportunity for action
Actors in the field are making exciting progress and many feel hopeful about what they can achieve. Survivors have long been seen as powerful leaders, illuminating the personal impact of CSV and fighting for a future without it. Together with other stakeholders, they have leveraged movements and conversations around childhood mental health, racial justice and women’s rights to show we can challenge inequalities, injustices and abuse that often seem like unfortunate, but inevitable, facts of human society.
Society is shifting. The first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children which took place in Bogotá, Colombia in November 2024, represented a significant moment: demonstrating rising global awareness of the challenge and a new, global commitment to re-imagine a world safe for all children.
Whilst acknowledging that we still have a long way to go, there are many reasons to feel positive and hopeful about our sector’s collective power to end CSV:
Organizations across the sector want to find ways to work more effectively together.
There’s increasing awareness of CSV across other sectors, such as education, climate, health, justice and technology, opening avenues for collaboration.
We have better evidence on effective interventions to end childhood sexual violence, particularly around the following:
strategies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
prevention of online sexual violence;
prevention of abuse behaviors;
emerging prevalence rates of CSV against boys and girls; and
specific circumstances of children with disabilities, or those living in or fleeing from conflict zones.
The sector has also made great progress in showing how evidence supports real-world actions, using it to galvanize national decision-makers and mobilize donors to support effective work.
Attention has shifted to focus on the dynamics of scaling interventions and building research infrastructure to support current and future work in more sustainable ways.
The potential of this moment, and the moral imperative to stop childhood sexual violence, is what drives us at To Zero.
A window of opportunity for action
Actors in the field are making exciting progress and many feel hopeful about what they can achieve. Survivors have long been seen as powerful leaders, illuminating the personal impact of CSV and fighting for a future without it. Together with other stakeholders, they have leveraged movements and conversations around childhood mental health, racial justice and women’s rights to show we can challenge inequalities, injustices and abuse that often seem like unfortunate, but inevitable, facts of human society.
Society is shifting. The first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children which took place in Bogotá, Colombia in November 2024, represented a significant moment: demonstrating rising global awareness of the challenge and a new, global commitment to re-imagine a world safe for all children.
Whilst acknowledging that we still have a long way to go, there are many reasons to feel positive and hopeful about our sector’s collective power to end CSV:
Organizations across the sector want to find ways to work more effectively together.
There’s increasing awareness of CSV across other sectors, such as education, climate, health, justice and technology, opening avenues for collaboration.
We have better evidence on effective interventions to end childhood sexual violence, particularly around the following:
strategies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
prevention of online sexual violence;
prevention of abuse behaviors;
emerging prevalence rates of CSV against boys and girls; and
specific circumstances of children with disabilities, or those living in or fleeing from conflict zones.
The sector has also made great progress in showing how evidence supports real-world actions, using it to galvanize national decision-makers and mobilize donors to support effective work.
Attention has shifted to focus on the dynamics of scaling interventions and building research infrastructure to support current and future work in more sustainable ways.
The potential of this moment, and the moral imperative to stop childhood sexual violence, is what drives us at To Zero.
A window of opportunity for action
Actors in the field are making exciting progress and many feel hopeful about what they can achieve. Survivors have long been seen as powerful leaders, illuminating the personal impact of CSV and fighting for a future without it. Together with other stakeholders, they have leveraged movements and conversations around childhood mental health, racial justice and women’s rights to show we can challenge inequalities, injustices and abuse that often seem like unfortunate, but inevitable, facts of human society.
Society is shifting. The first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children which took place in Bogotá, Colombia in November 2024, represented a significant moment: demonstrating rising global awareness of the challenge and a new, global commitment to re-imagine a world safe for all children.
Whilst acknowledging that we still have a long way to go, there are many reasons to feel positive and hopeful about our sector’s collective power to end CSV:
Organizations across the sector want to find ways to work more effectively together.
There’s increasing awareness of CSV across other sectors, such as education, climate, health, justice and technology, opening avenues for collaboration.
We have better evidence on effective interventions to end childhood sexual violence, particularly around the following:
strategies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
prevention of online sexual violence;
prevention of abuse behaviors;
emerging prevalence rates of CSV against boys and girls; and
specific circumstances of children with disabilities, or those living in or fleeing from conflict zones.
The sector has also made great progress in showing how evidence supports real-world actions, using it to galvanize national decision-makers and mobilize donors to support effective work.
Attention has shifted to focus on the dynamics of scaling interventions and building research infrastructure to support current and future work in more sustainable ways.
The potential of this moment, and the moral imperative to stop childhood sexual violence, is what drives us at To Zero.
Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence.
Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence.
Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence.
Across almost all cultures, entrenched social and cultural norms often serve to facilitate childhood sexual violence.
What is To Zero?
To Zero began in 2022 as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue: ending CSV. We want to support the people who are already making a difference and inspire advocates, funders, and decision-makers to accelerate the pace of progress.
We set out to capture perspectives from within the field on the pathways to follow to reach a future free from childhood sexual violence. Our purpose was to hear from many different groups around the world, including but not limited to:
civil society leaders and organizations;
researchers;
advocates and activists;
representatives from non-profit organizations; and
leading coalitions and networks dedicated to preventing and responding to childhood sexual violence.
Through these converstions we built a roadmap for action, fostering collaborative cross-sector relationships to align our sector around a visionary shared goal. We have focused on research and development, analyzing current literature on approaches and beliefs and seeking key stakeholder insights to better understand which actions have the greatest potential for lasting change.
Our initial state of play report, Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence, reviewed historical and current evidence from across the sector to date. Its goal was to make sure everyone invested in ending childhood sexual violence has access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges.
That report is deeply researched and includes over 50 critical references. It should be read as the source document for the evidence-based analysis described in this report.
Underpinning the report is a simple theory of change, widely adopted in the field: evidence of the problem and of effective responses will grow political will and donor funding, which will in turn drive more and better action. If we also pay attention to capacity to deliver, this action will generate more real-world impact and evidence of success.
This second and final report presents the work that followed on the basis of this earlier research. It is the culmination of eighteen months of collective visioning synthesized from the views of over 330 stakeholders from around the world in the sector to end childhood sexual violence. Here we set out the critical areas of focus and the steps we can all take to help make our ambition a reality.
To Zero began in 2022 as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue: ending CSV. We want to support the people who are already making a difference and inspire advocates, funders, and decision-makers to accelerate the pace of progress.
We set out to capture perspectives from within the field on the pathways to follow to reach a future free from childhood sexual violence. Our purpose was to hear from many different groups around the world, including but not limited to:
civil society leaders and organizations;
researchers;
advocates and activists;
representatives from non-profit organizations; and
leading coalitions and networks dedicated to preventing and responding to childhood sexual violence.
Through these converstions we built a roadmap for action, fostering collaborative cross-sector relationships to align our sector around a visionary shared goal. We have focused on research and development, analyzing current literature on approaches and beliefs and seeking key stakeholder insights to better understand which actions have the greatest potential for lasting change.
Our initial state of play report, Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence, reviewed historical and current evidence from across the sector to date. Its goal was to make sure everyone invested in ending childhood sexual violence has access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges.
That report is deeply researched and includes over 50 critical references. It should be read as the source document for the evidence-based analysis described in this report.
Underpinning the report is a simple theory of change, widely adopted in the field: evidence of the problem and of effective responses will grow political will and donor funding, which will in turn drive more and better action. If we also pay attention to capacity to deliver, this action will generate more real-world impact and evidence of success.
This second and final report presents the work that followed on the basis of this earlier research. It is the culmination of eighteen months of collective visioning synthesized from the views of over 330 stakeholders from around the world in the sector to end childhood sexual violence. Here we set out the critical areas of focus and the steps we can all take to help make our ambition a reality.
To Zero began in 2022 as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue: ending CSV. We want to support the people who are already making a difference and inspire advocates, funders, and decision-makers to accelerate the pace of progress.
We set out to capture perspectives from within the field on the pathways to follow to reach a future free from childhood sexual violence. Our purpose was to hear from many different groups around the world, including but not limited to:
civil society leaders and organizations;
researchers;
advocates and activists;
representatives from non-profit organizations; and
leading coalitions and networks dedicated to preventing and responding to childhood sexual violence.
Through these converstions we built a roadmap for action, fostering collaborative cross-sector relationships to align our sector around a visionary shared goal. We have focused on research and development, analyzing current literature on approaches and beliefs and seeking key stakeholder insights to better understand which actions have the greatest potential for lasting change.
Our initial state of play report, Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence, reviewed historical and current evidence from across the sector to date. Its goal was to make sure everyone invested in ending childhood sexual violence has access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges.
That report is deeply researched and includes over 50 critical references. It should be read as the source document for the evidence-based analysis described in this report.
Underpinning the report is a simple theory of change, widely adopted in the field: evidence of the problem and of effective responses will grow political will and donor funding, which will in turn drive more and better action. If we also pay attention to capacity to deliver, this action will generate more real-world impact and evidence of success.
This second and final report presents the work that followed on the basis of this earlier research. It is the culmination of eighteen months of collective visioning synthesized from the views of over 330 stakeholders from around the world in the sector to end childhood sexual violence. Here we set out the critical areas of focus and the steps we can all take to help make our ambition a reality.
To Zero began in 2022 as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue: ending CSV. We want to support the people who are already making a difference and inspire advocates, funders, and decision-makers to accelerate the pace of progress.
We set out to capture perspectives from within the field on the pathways to follow to reach a future free from childhood sexual violence. Our purpose was to hear from many different groups around the world, including but not limited to:
civil society leaders and organizations;
researchers;
advocates and activists;
representatives from non-profit organizations; and
leading coalitions and networks dedicated to preventing and responding to childhood sexual violence.
Through these converstions we built a roadmap for action, fostering collaborative cross-sector relationships to align our sector around a visionary shared goal. We have focused on research and development, analyzing current literature on approaches and beliefs and seeking key stakeholder insights to better understand which actions have the greatest potential for lasting change.
Our initial state of play report, Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence, reviewed historical and current evidence from across the sector to date. Its goal was to make sure everyone invested in ending childhood sexual violence has access to the most relevant frameworks and information on promising developments and persistent challenges.
That report is deeply researched and includes over 50 critical references. It should be read as the source document for the evidence-based analysis described in this report.
Underpinning the report is a simple theory of change, widely adopted in the field: evidence of the problem and of effective responses will grow political will and donor funding, which will in turn drive more and better action. If we also pay attention to capacity to deliver, this action will generate more real-world impact and evidence of success.
This second and final report presents the work that followed on the basis of this earlier research. It is the culmination of eighteen months of collective visioning synthesized from the views of over 330 stakeholders from around the world in the sector to end childhood sexual violence. Here we set out the critical areas of focus and the steps we can all take to help make our ambition a reality.
Our approach makes us unique
To make sure our vision and action plan truly draw on a deep understanding of our sector’s challenges, we’ve been guided by leaders from different areas of expertize including many practitioners. Many have decades of experience and are survivors themselves (whether disclosed or not), helping us keep their voices at the heart of our work.
Overall, we have taken a multi-faceted approach built upon three key factors:
Insights from sector leaders from a multitude of settings across the globe.
A visioning process to map the landscape based on the Three Horizons framework.
Pathways to drive long-term change and action accelerators to focus short-term effort for transformative impact.
Our approach makes us unique
To make sure our vision and action plan truly draw on a deep understanding of our sector’s challenges, we’ve been guided by leaders from different areas of expertize including many practitioners. Many have decades of experience and are survivors themselves (whether disclosed or not), helping us keep their voices at the heart of our work.
Overall, we have taken a multi-faceted approach built upon three key factors:
Insights from sector leaders from a multitude of settings across the globe.
A visioning process to map the landscape based on the Three Horizons framework.
Pathways to drive long-term change and action accelerators to focus short-term effort for transformative impact.
Our approach makes us unique
To make sure our vision and action plan truly draw on a deep understanding of our sector’s challenges, we’ve been guided by leaders from different areas of expertize including many practitioners. Many have decades of experience and are survivors themselves (whether disclosed or not), helping us keep their voices at the heart of our work.
Overall, we have taken a multi-faceted approach built upon three key factors:
Insights from sector leaders from a multitude of settings across the globe.
A visioning process to map the landscape based on the Three Horizons framework.
Pathways to drive long-term change and action accelerators to focus short-term effort for transformative impact.
Our approach makes us unique
To make sure our vision and action plan truly draw on a deep understanding of our sector’s challenges, we’ve been guided by leaders from different areas of expertize including many practitioners. Many have decades of experience and are survivors themselves (whether disclosed or not), helping us keep their voices at the heart of our work.
Overall, we have taken a multi-faceted approach built upon three key factors:
Insights from sector leaders from a multitude of settings across the globe.
A visioning process to map the landscape based on the Three Horizons framework.
Pathways to drive long-term change and action accelerators to focus short-term effort for transformative impact.
The visioning process
Our visioning process used the Three Horizons framework as a clear structure around which to build a detailed picture of the childhood sexual violence landscape viewed from within the field.
Overseen by an experienced practitioner, several groups of stakeholders (identified below) were invited to describe their own view of the evolving landscape in terms of:
Concerns – Worries about present systems, including why current actions are not making as large or as fast an impact as we would wish.
Innovations – Programs, initiatives or ideas that are being implemented or considered to improve progress.
Sources of hope – Individual and collective aspirations for the future, and signs of hope in the present that they can be realized in practice.
These inclusive, productive conversations reveal a shared sense of the territory - both hopes and concerns, a firm direction of travel, and a much clearer picture of what stakeholders say they need to achieve their long- and short-term goals.
The visioning process
Our visioning process used the Three Horizons framework as a clear structure around which to build a detailed picture of the childhood sexual violence landscape viewed from within the field.
Overseen by an experienced practitioner, several groups of stakeholders (identified below) were invited to describe their own view of the evolving landscape in terms of:
Concerns – Worries about present systems, including why current actions are not making as large or as fast an impact as we would wish.
Innovations – Programs, initiatives or ideas that are being implemented or considered to improve progress.
Sources of hope – Individual and collective aspirations for the future, and signs of hope in the present that they can be realized in practice.
These inclusive, productive conversations reveal a shared sense of the territory - both hopes and concerns, a firm direction of travel, and a much clearer picture of what stakeholders say they need to achieve their long- and short-term goals.
The visioning process
Our visioning process used the Three Horizons framework as a clear structure around which to build a detailed picture of the childhood sexual violence landscape viewed from within the field.
Overseen by an experienced practitioner, several groups of stakeholders (identified below) were invited to describe their own view of the evolving landscape in terms of:
Concerns – Worries about present systems, including why current actions are not making as large or as fast an impact as we would wish.
Innovations – Programs, initiatives or ideas that are being implemented or considered to improve progress.
Sources of hope – Individual and collective aspirations for the future, and signs of hope in the present that they can be realized in practice.
These inclusive, productive conversations reveal a shared sense of the territory - both hopes and concerns, a firm direction of travel, and a much clearer picture of what stakeholders say they need to achieve their long- and short-term goals.
The visioning process
Our visioning process used the Three Horizons framework as a clear structure around which to build a detailed picture of the childhood sexual violence landscape viewed from within the field.
Overseen by an experienced practitioner, several groups of stakeholders (identified below) were invited to describe their own view of the evolving landscape in terms of:
Concerns – Worries about present systems, including why current actions are not making as large or as fast an impact as we would wish.
Innovations – Programs, initiatives or ideas that are being implemented or considered to improve progress.
Sources of hope – Individual and collective aspirations for the future, and signs of hope in the present that they can be realized in practice.
These inclusive, productive conversations reveal a shared sense of the territory - both hopes and concerns, a firm direction of travel, and a much clearer picture of what stakeholders say they need to achieve their long- and short-term goals.
For more information on the the Three Horizons framework, visit www.iffpraxis.com/3h-approach
For more information on the the Three Horizons framework, visit www.iffpraxis.com/3h-approach
For more information on the the Three Horizons framework, visit www.iffpraxis.com/3h-approach
For more information on the the Three Horizons framework, visit www.iffpraxis.com/3h-approach
Diverse contributions
Two key groups informed our visioning process: a small Champions Group and a much larger Visioning Group, comprising a growing network of sector leaders and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and geographies.
Nine leaders from across the sector to end childhood sexual violence make up our Champions Group. Each brings a unique voice and perspective, as well as a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within our sector.
The group met quarterly between May 2023 and October 2024. During this time, they helped us frame and develop key parts of our visioning process. That included the need, from the outset, to follow a recognized trauma-informed approach (we used a modified Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approach), creating safer spaces while providing self and collective care to minimize triggers, and prevent re-traumatization during the process
Now that the visioning process is complete, our champions will continue to be vocal advocates for our vision.
Our larger Visioning Group is composed of actors reflecting a diverse cross-section of the global community impacted by childhood sexual violence, encompassing a range of ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and sexualities. This diversity also includes areas of expertize spanning key focus areas such as Global South- and North-focused work, global and grassroots initiatives, and specific issues like online abuse, incest and child marriage.
Importantly, the Visioning Group also brought a range of attitudes regarding the project's goal, providing a balance of reasons for positivity and areas of concern. This diverse makeup ensured the visioning process was comprehensive, grounded and open to nuanced perspectives.
Diverse contributions
Two key groups informed our visioning process: a small Champions Group and a much larger Visioning Group, comprising a growing network of sector leaders and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and geographies.
Nine leaders from across the sector to end childhood sexual violence make up our Champions Group. Each brings a unique voice and perspective, as well as a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within our sector.
The group met quarterly between May 2023 and October 2024. During this time, they helped us frame and develop key parts of our visioning process. That included the need, from the outset, to follow a recognized trauma-informed approach (we used a modified Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approach), creating safer spaces while providing self and collective care to minimize triggers, and prevent re-traumatization during the process
Now that the visioning process is complete, our champions will continue to be vocal advocates for our vision.
Our larger Visioning Group is composed of actors reflecting a diverse cross-section of the global community impacted by childhood sexual violence, encompassing a range of ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and sexualities. This diversity also includes areas of expertize spanning key focus areas such as Global South- and North-focused work, global and grassroots initiatives, and specific issues like online abuse, incest and child marriage.
Importantly, the Visioning Group also brought a range of attitudes regarding the project's goal, providing a balance of reasons for positivity and areas of concern. This diverse makeup ensured the visioning process was comprehensive, grounded and open to nuanced perspectives.
Diverse contributions
Two key groups informed our visioning process: a small Champions Group and a much larger Visioning Group, comprising a growing network of sector leaders and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and geographies.
Nine leaders from across the sector to end childhood sexual violence make up our Champions Group. Each brings a unique voice and perspective, as well as a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within our sector.
The group met quarterly between May 2023 and October 2024. During this time, they helped us frame and develop key parts of our visioning process. That included the need, from the outset, to follow a recognized trauma-informed approach (we used a modified Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approach), creating safer spaces while providing self and collective care to minimize triggers, and prevent re-traumatization during the process
Now that the visioning process is complete, our champions will continue to be vocal advocates for our vision.
Our larger Visioning Group is composed of actors reflecting a diverse cross-section of the global community impacted by childhood sexual violence, encompassing a range of ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and sexualities. This diversity also includes areas of expertize spanning key focus areas such as Global South- and North-focused work, global and grassroots initiatives, and specific issues like online abuse, incest and child marriage.
Importantly, the Visioning Group also brought a range of attitudes regarding the project's goal, providing a balance of reasons for positivity and areas of concern. This diverse makeup ensured the visioning process was comprehensive, grounded and open to nuanced perspectives.
Diverse contributions
Two key groups informed our visioning process: a small Champions Group and a much larger Visioning Group, comprising a growing network of sector leaders and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and geographies.
Nine leaders from across the sector to end childhood sexual violence make up our Champions Group. Each brings a unique voice and perspective, as well as a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within our sector.
The group met quarterly between May 2023 and October 2024. During this time, they helped us frame and develop key parts of our visioning process. That included the need, from the outset, to follow a recognized trauma-informed approach (we used a modified Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approach), creating safer spaces while providing self and collective care to minimize triggers, and prevent re-traumatization during the process
Now that the visioning process is complete, our champions will continue to be vocal advocates for our vision.
Our larger Visioning Group is composed of actors reflecting a diverse cross-section of the global community impacted by childhood sexual violence, encompassing a range of ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and sexualities. This diversity also includes areas of expertize spanning key focus areas such as Global South- and North-focused work, global and grassroots initiatives, and specific issues like online abuse, incest and child marriage.
Importantly, the Visioning Group also brought a range of attitudes regarding the project's goal, providing a balance of reasons for positivity and areas of concern. This diverse makeup ensured the visioning process was comprehensive, grounded and open to nuanced perspectives.
A regular cadence of discussions
We hosted an initial three-day visioning workshop in London in October 2023 to gather initial feedback on our aims, our process and the substantive issues in play.
From March to September 2024 the To Zero implementation team sought opportunities to further inform the vision and roadmap by meeting stakeholders where they were already gathered, including in different parts of the world (see insert: Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process). These events included regional leader and activist meetings, survivor retreats, and conferences designed for researchers and practitioners in the field. Each gathering was also used as an opportunity to expand the Visioning Group.
During this period we also hosted a series of Visioning Group virtual sessions. As a result of these processes, over 330 global stakeholders have been involved in contributing to the vision and roadmap presented in this report.
A regular cadence of discussions
We hosted an initial three-day visioning workshop in London in October 2023 to gather initial feedback on our aims, our process and the substantive issues in play.
From March to September 2024 the To Zero implementation team sought opportunities to further inform the vision and roadmap by meeting stakeholders where they were already gathered, including in different parts of the world (see insert: Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process). These events included regional leader and activist meetings, survivor retreats, and conferences designed for researchers and practitioners in the field. Each gathering was also used as an opportunity to expand the Visioning Group.
During this period we also hosted a series of Visioning Group virtual sessions. As a result of these processes, over 330 global stakeholders have been involved in contributing to the vision and roadmap presented in this report.
A regular cadence of discussions
We hosted an initial three-day visioning workshop in London in October 2023 to gather initial feedback on our aims, our process and the substantive issues in play.
From March to September 2024 the To Zero implementation team sought opportunities to further inform the vision and roadmap by meeting stakeholders where they were already gathered, including in different parts of the world (see insert: Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process). These events included regional leader and activist meetings, survivor retreats, and conferences designed for researchers and practitioners in the field. Each gathering was also used as an opportunity to expand the Visioning Group.
During this period we also hosted a series of Visioning Group virtual sessions. As a result of these processes, over 330 global stakeholders have been involved in contributing to the vision and roadmap presented in this report.
A regular cadence of discussions
We hosted an initial three-day visioning workshop in London in October 2023 to gather initial feedback on our aims, our process and the substantive issues in play.
From March to September 2024 the To Zero implementation team sought opportunities to further inform the vision and roadmap by meeting stakeholders where they were already gathered, including in different parts of the world (see insert: Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process). These events included regional leader and activist meetings, survivor retreats, and conferences designed for researchers and practitioners in the field. Each gathering was also used as an opportunity to expand the Visioning Group.
During this period we also hosted a series of Visioning Group virtual sessions. As a result of these processes, over 330 global stakeholders have been involved in contributing to the vision and roadmap presented in this report.
Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process
ECPAT Regional Meeting (Thailand); Family for Every Child (Thailand); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Campaigning) (UK); Brave Movement Retreat (Portugal); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Justice & Accountability) (Mexico); Ending Clergy Abuse Members Meeting (Italy); Envision Conference, The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (USA); DeafKidz International (South Africa); Institute for Security Studies (South Africa); Youth Leaders convening (South Africa).
Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process
ECPAT Regional Meeting (Thailand); Family for Every Child (Thailand); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Campaigning) (UK); Brave Movement Retreat (Portugal); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Justice & Accountability) (Mexico); Ending Clergy Abuse Members Meeting (Italy); Envision Conference, The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (USA); DeafKidz International (South Africa); Institute for Security Studies (South Africa); Youth Leaders convening (South Africa).
Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process
ECPAT Regional Meeting (Thailand); Family for Every Child (Thailand); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Campaigning) (UK); Brave Movement Retreat (Portugal); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Justice & Accountability) (Mexico); Ending Clergy Abuse Members Meeting (Italy); Envision Conference, The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (USA); DeafKidz International (South Africa); Institute for Security Studies (South Africa); Youth Leaders convening (South Africa).
Workshops hosted by To Zero during the visioning process
ECPAT Regional Meeting (Thailand); Family for Every Child (Thailand); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Campaigning) (UK); Brave Movement Retreat (Portugal); Oak Foundation Grantee Convening (focused on Justice & Accountability) (Mexico); Ending Clergy Abuse Members Meeting (Italy); Envision Conference, The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (USA); DeafKidz International (South Africa); Institute for Security Studies (South Africa); Youth Leaders convening (South Africa).
Additional insights
We’ve been grateful to work with partners that have helped us gather marginalized and underrepresented perspectives, including those of children with disabilities and their supporters, non-English speakers, and the youth voice. We know there is much more work to be done to truly reflect mainstream and less represented experiences of CSV, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
Further, our approach has been informed by three additional activities to collect field insights:
Solutions Insights Lab carried out over Solutions Insights Lab carried out over 75 in-depth stakeholder interviews across the world in a number of languages and not limited to the CSV field. These were probing for depth and relevant experience, filling gaps, surfacing new ideas. Running parallel to our visioning process, we cross-referenced the insights emerging from both processes to add strength to our collective outputs.
A group of global youth leaders in the sector came together to share insights, helping us ensure that youth perspectives are reflected in our final outputs.
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) gathered views and insights on research and data related to childhood sexual violence to feed into our process.
Additional insights
We’ve been grateful to work with partners that have helped us gather marginalized and underrepresented perspectives, including those of children with disabilities and their supporters, non-English speakers, and the youth voice. We know there is much more work to be done to truly reflect mainstream and less represented experiences of CSV, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
Further, our approach has been informed by three additional activities to collect field insights:
Solutions Insights Lab carried out over Solutions Insights Lab carried out over 75 in-depth stakeholder interviews across the world in a number of languages and not limited to the CSV field. These were probing for depth and relevant experience, filling gaps, surfacing new ideas. Running parallel to our visioning process, we cross-referenced the insights emerging from both processes to add strength to our collective outputs.
A group of global youth leaders in the sector came together to share insights, helping us ensure that youth perspectives are reflected in our final outputs.
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) gathered views and insights on research and data related to childhood sexual violence to feed into our process.
Additional insights
We’ve been grateful to work with partners that have helped us gather marginalized and underrepresented perspectives, including those of children with disabilities and their supporters, non-English speakers, and the youth voice. We know there is much more work to be done to truly reflect mainstream and less represented experiences of CSV, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
Further, our approach has been informed by three additional activities to collect field insights:
Solutions Insights Lab carried out over Solutions Insights Lab carried out over 75 in-depth stakeholder interviews across the world in a number of languages and not limited to the CSV field. These were probing for depth and relevant experience, filling gaps, surfacing new ideas. Running parallel to our visioning process, we cross-referenced the insights emerging from both processes to add strength to our collective outputs.
A group of global youth leaders in the sector came together to share insights, helping us ensure that youth perspectives are reflected in our final outputs.
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) gathered views and insights on research and data related to childhood sexual violence to feed into our process.
Additional insights
We’ve been grateful to work with partners that have helped us gather marginalized and underrepresented perspectives, including those of children with disabilities and their supporters, non-English speakers, and the youth voice. We know there is much more work to be done to truly reflect mainstream and less represented experiences of CSV, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
Further, our approach has been informed by three additional activities to collect field insights:
Solutions Insights Lab carried out over Solutions Insights Lab carried out over 75 in-depth stakeholder interviews across the world in a number of languages and not limited to the CSV field. These were probing for depth and relevant experience, filling gaps, surfacing new ideas. Running parallel to our visioning process, we cross-referenced the insights emerging from both processes to add strength to our collective outputs.
A group of global youth leaders in the sector came together to share insights, helping us ensure that youth perspectives are reflected in our final outputs.
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) gathered views and insights on research and data related to childhood sexual violence to feed into our process.
How to read this report
In the next section we describe our vision and what we need to realize it - looking at sources of hope, causes for concern and the implications for more effective action to meet our goal of ending CSV. This section highlights six critical thematic areas ripe for cross-sector practice and collaboration.
Based on those critical themes, we then set out in detail eight tangible Action Accelerators: examples of key routes of action that, if pursued diligently, can make a real difference to the childhood sexual violence landscape in the next five years.
Finally, in our Call to Action, we summarize our recommendations and issue an invitation for actors across our sector and beyond to play their part in ending CSV.
How to read this report
In the next section we describe our vision and what we need to realize it - looking at sources of hope, causes for concern and the implications for more effective action to meet our goal of ending CSV. This section highlights six critical thematic areas ripe for cross-sector practice and collaboration.
Based on those critical themes, we then set out in detail eight tangible Action Accelerators: examples of key routes of action that, if pursued diligently, can make a real difference to the childhood sexual violence landscape in the next five years.
Finally, in our Call to Action, we summarize our recommendations and issue an invitation for actors across our sector and beyond to play their part in ending CSV.
How to read this report
In the next section we describe our vision and what we need to realize it - looking at sources of hope, causes for concern and the implications for more effective action to meet our goal of ending CSV. This section highlights six critical thematic areas ripe for cross-sector practice and collaboration.
Based on those critical themes, we then set out in detail eight tangible Action Accelerators: examples of key routes of action that, if pursued diligently, can make a real difference to the childhood sexual violence landscape in the next five years.
Finally, in our Call to Action, we summarize our recommendations and issue an invitation for actors across our sector and beyond to play their part in ending CSV.
How to read this report
In the next section we describe our vision and what we need to realize it - looking at sources of hope, causes for concern and the implications for more effective action to meet our goal of ending CSV. This section highlights six critical thematic areas ripe for cross-sector practice and collaboration.
Based on those critical themes, we then set out in detail eight tangible Action Accelerators: examples of key routes of action that, if pursued diligently, can make a real difference to the childhood sexual violence landscape in the next five years.
Finally, in our Call to Action, we summarize our recommendations and issue an invitation for actors across our sector and beyond to play their part in ending CSV.
To Zero exists as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue.
To Zero exists as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue.
To Zero exists as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue.
To Zero exists as a timebound initiative dedicated solely to one issue.
Our vision
And what we need to realize it
Our vision
And what we need to realize it
Our vision
And what we need to realize it
Mapping the field
As outlined in the introduction, we have spoken to key stakeholders, including civil society leaders, practitioners, researchers, campaigners, and donors, to gain a deeper understanding of what supports, what hinders, and what provides hope in our mission to end childhood sexual violence.
Each conversation has added a new layer of understanding and nuance to our map of the landscape, while strengthening our sense of global community and collective power.
Though everyone’s focus is unique, the visioning process helped people better understand their place in a bigger picture. We were not aiming to have everyone reach a consensus, but to understand cultural and socioeconomic differences and individual perspectives as we consolidated areas of common ground. The vision that follows is therefore supported both by quantifiable data and by the collective and diverse experience of actors in the field.
As outlined in the introduction, we have spoken to key stakeholders, including civil society leaders, practitioners, researchers, campaigners, and donors, to gain a deeper understanding of what supports, what hinders, and what provides hope in our mission to end childhood sexual violence.
Each conversation has added a new layer of understanding and nuance to our map of the landscape, while strengthening our sense of global community and collective power.
Though everyone’s focus is unique, the visioning process helped people better understand their place in a bigger picture. We were not aiming to have everyone reach a consensus, but to understand cultural and socioeconomic differences and individual perspectives as we consolidated areas of common ground. The vision that follows is therefore supported both by quantifiable data and by the collective and diverse experience of actors in the field.
As outlined in the introduction, we have spoken to key stakeholders, including civil society leaders, practitioners, researchers, campaigners, and donors, to gain a deeper understanding of what supports, what hinders, and what provides hope in our mission to end childhood sexual violence.
Each conversation has added a new layer of understanding and nuance to our map of the landscape, while strengthening our sense of global community and collective power.
Though everyone’s focus is unique, the visioning process helped people better understand their place in a bigger picture. We were not aiming to have everyone reach a consensus, but to understand cultural and socioeconomic differences and individual perspectives as we consolidated areas of common ground. The vision that follows is therefore supported both by quantifiable data and by the collective and diverse experience of actors in the field.
As outlined in the introduction, we have spoken to key stakeholders, including civil society leaders, practitioners, researchers, campaigners, and donors, to gain a deeper understanding of what supports, what hinders, and what provides hope in our mission to end childhood sexual violence.
Each conversation has added a new layer of understanding and nuance to our map of the landscape, while strengthening our sense of global community and collective power.
Though everyone’s focus is unique, the visioning process helped people better understand their place in a bigger picture. We were not aiming to have everyone reach a consensus, but to understand cultural and socioeconomic differences and individual perspectives as we consolidated areas of common ground. The vision that follows is therefore supported both by quantifiable data and by the collective and diverse experience of actors in the field.
Capturing our vision
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else. What was also clear is that our field shares a strong conviction that childhood sexual violence is preventable.
Our vision for that future, a future without CSV, naturally embraces all kinds of broad, positive outcomes. In terms of our immediate focus, it can be summed up in four aspects: a safe and healthy world for children, a healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV, strong systems of governance, justice and accountability, and collaboration, innovation and learning.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else. What was also clear is that our field shares a strong conviction that childhood sexual violence is preventable.
Our vision for that future, a future without CSV, naturally embraces all kinds of broad, positive outcomes. In terms of our immediate focus, it can be summed up in four aspects: a safe and healthy world for children, a healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV, strong systems of governance, justice and accountability, and collaboration, innovation and learning.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else. What was also clear is that our field shares a strong conviction that childhood sexual violence is preventable.
Our vision for that future, a future without CSV, naturally embraces all kinds of broad, positive outcomes. In terms of our immediate focus, it can be summed up in four aspects: a safe and healthy world for children, a healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV, strong systems of governance, justice and accountability, and collaboration, innovation and learning.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else. What was also clear is that our field shares a strong conviction that childhood sexual violence is preventable.
Our vision for that future, a future without CSV, naturally embraces all kinds of broad, positive outcomes. In terms of our immediate focus, it can be summed up in four aspects: a safe and healthy world for children, a healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV, strong systems of governance, justice and accountability, and collaboration, innovation and learning.
1: A safe and healthy world for children
Without the threat of abuse, everyone agreed that wider society benefits – for example with parents able to cease worrying and enjoy quality time with their children, and with public resources fed into life-enhancing activity rather than restoration, investigation and incarceration. Crucially, healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, meaning eradicating CSV will have a deeper societal impact that goes beyond restoring the natural joys of childhood.
Addressing contributory factors such as poverty, systemic inequality and oppression, and shifting gender expectations are key to lasting change. As those shifts take place, we must continue to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed services for survivors and well-resourced educational programs for families, for adult perpetrators, and for youth with problematic sexual behaviors. These are necessary actions to create healthier societies where childhood sexual violence should not occur.
1: A safe and healthy world for children
Without the threat of abuse, everyone agreed that wider society benefits – for example with parents able to cease worrying and enjoy quality time with their children, and with public resources fed into life-enhancing activity rather than restoration, investigation and incarceration. Crucially, healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, meaning eradicating CSV will have a deeper societal impact that goes beyond restoring the natural joys of childhood.
Addressing contributory factors such as poverty, systemic inequality and oppression, and shifting gender expectations are key to lasting change. As those shifts take place, we must continue to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed services for survivors and well-resourced educational programs for families, for adult perpetrators, and for youth with problematic sexual behaviors. These are necessary actions to create healthier societies where childhood sexual violence should not occur.
1: A safe and healthy world for children
Without the threat of abuse, everyone agreed that wider society benefits – for example with parents able to cease worrying and enjoy quality time with their children, and with public resources fed into life-enhancing activity rather than restoration, investigation and incarceration. Crucially, healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, meaning eradicating CSV will have a deeper societal impact that goes beyond restoring the natural joys of childhood.
Addressing contributory factors such as poverty, systemic inequality and oppression, and shifting gender expectations are key to lasting change. As those shifts take place, we must continue to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed services for survivors and well-resourced educational programs for families, for adult perpetrators, and for youth with problematic sexual behaviors. These are necessary actions to create healthier societies where childhood sexual violence should not occur.
1: A safe and healthy world for children
Without the threat of abuse, everyone agreed that wider society benefits – for example with parents able to cease worrying and enjoy quality time with their children, and with public resources fed into life-enhancing activity rather than restoration, investigation and incarceration. Crucially, healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, meaning eradicating CSV will have a deeper societal impact that goes beyond restoring the natural joys of childhood.
Addressing contributory factors such as poverty, systemic inequality and oppression, and shifting gender expectations are key to lasting change. As those shifts take place, we must continue to provide therapeutic, trauma-informed services for survivors and well-resourced educational programs for families, for adult perpetrators, and for youth with problematic sexual behaviors. These are necessary actions to create healthier societies where childhood sexual violence should not occur.
2: A healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV
While a healthy culture will have zero tolerance for any incidence of sexual abuse, it should still be discussed openly. There’s a strong desire to normalize conversations around CSV, removing the shame and taboos that allow violence to continue in the shadows. It should be discussed as openly as other social problems, to maintain public and political attention and to ensure that survivors are able to disclose abuse without risk of further harm.
It’s clear the field recognizes longer term cultural changes are needed alongside providing greater support to survivors. One stakeholder expressed it in this way: “services can never be sufficiently upscaled as the need always outstrips provision”.
2: A healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV
While a healthy culture will have zero tolerance for any incidence of sexual abuse, it should still be discussed openly. There’s a strong desire to normalize conversations around CSV, removing the shame and taboos that allow violence to continue in the shadows. It should be discussed as openly as other social problems, to maintain public and political attention and to ensure that survivors are able to disclose abuse without risk of further harm.
It’s clear the field recognizes longer term cultural changes are needed alongside providing greater support to survivors. One stakeholder expressed it in this way: “services can never be sufficiently upscaled as the need always outstrips provision”.
2: A healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV
While a healthy culture will have zero tolerance for any incidence of sexual abuse, it should still be discussed openly. There’s a strong desire to normalize conversations around CSV, removing the shame and taboos that allow violence to continue in the shadows. It should be discussed as openly as other social problems, to maintain public and political attention and to ensure that survivors are able to disclose abuse without risk of further harm.
It’s clear the field recognizes longer term cultural changes are needed alongside providing greater support to survivors. One stakeholder expressed it in this way: “services can never be sufficiently upscaled as the need always outstrips provision”.
2: A healthy culture with zero tolerance for CSV
While a healthy culture will have zero tolerance for any incidence of sexual abuse, it should still be discussed openly. There’s a strong desire to normalize conversations around CSV, removing the shame and taboos that allow violence to continue in the shadows. It should be discussed as openly as other social problems, to maintain public and political attention and to ensure that survivors are able to disclose abuse without risk of further harm.
It’s clear the field recognizes longer term cultural changes are needed alongside providing greater support to survivors. One stakeholder expressed it in this way: “services can never be sufficiently upscaled as the need always outstrips provision”.
3: Strong systems of governance, wellbeing, justice and accountability
A central principle of our vision is that children deserve dignity and respect and should not be treated as the property of adults. Their voices must be listened to, as they develop a strong sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. Ultimately children’s rights are human rights.
Government policies and sector decision making should prioritize children’s safety and well being when delivering or designing services, legislation and regulation. They should also respect and engage children, adolescents and youth, using survivors’ voices to inform decisions and policies.
Strong regulation and oversight will keep private companies and public settings, including online environments, workplaces and the home, safe for children. They will reflect a culture that demands safety and is quick to respond to harm. Prevention and response programs from governments must be funded to match the scale of the problem, and technology must be regulated to remain safe as it evolves.
We envision a stronger culture of justice and accountability, with systems underpinned by a commitment to healing through restorative or even transformative justice. Justice will be accessible, survivor-centered, adapted for children where necessary, and hold adult perpetrators to account. We heard repeatedly the desire for prevention, justice and healing – all three, hand in hand.
3: Strong systems of governance, wellbeing, justice and accountability
A central principle of our vision is that children deserve dignity and respect and should not be treated as the property of adults. Their voices must be listened to, as they develop a strong sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. Ultimately children’s rights are human rights.
Government policies and sector decision making should prioritize children’s safety and well being when delivering or designing services, legislation and regulation. They should also respect and engage children, adolescents and youth, using survivors’ voices to inform decisions and policies.
Strong regulation and oversight will keep private companies and public settings, including online environments, workplaces and the home, safe for children. They will reflect a culture that demands safety and is quick to respond to harm. Prevention and response programs from governments must be funded to match the scale of the problem, and technology must be regulated to remain safe as it evolves.
We envision a stronger culture of justice and accountability, with systems underpinned by a commitment to healing through restorative or even transformative justice. Justice will be accessible, survivor-centered, adapted for children where necessary, and hold adult perpetrators to account. We heard repeatedly the desire for prevention, justice and healing – all three, hand in hand.
3: Strong systems of governance, wellbeing, justice and accountability
A central principle of our vision is that children deserve dignity and respect and should not be treated as the property of adults. Their voices must be listened to, as they develop a strong sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. Ultimately children’s rights are human rights.
Government policies and sector decision making should prioritize children’s safety and well being when delivering or designing services, legislation and regulation. They should also respect and engage children, adolescents and youth, using survivors’ voices to inform decisions and policies.
Strong regulation and oversight will keep private companies and public settings, including online environments, workplaces and the home, safe for children. They will reflect a culture that demands safety and is quick to respond to harm. Prevention and response programs from governments must be funded to match the scale of the problem, and technology must be regulated to remain safe as it evolves.
We envision a stronger culture of justice and accountability, with systems underpinned by a commitment to healing through restorative or even transformative justice. Justice will be accessible, survivor-centered, adapted for children where necessary, and hold adult perpetrators to account. We heard repeatedly the desire for prevention, justice and healing – all three, hand in hand.
3: Strong systems of governance, wellbeing, justice and accountability
A central principle of our vision is that children deserve dignity and respect and should not be treated as the property of adults. Their voices must be listened to, as they develop a strong sense of agency and autonomy that they can carry into adulthood. Ultimately children’s rights are human rights.
Government policies and sector decision making should prioritize children’s safety and well being when delivering or designing services, legislation and regulation. They should also respect and engage children, adolescents and youth, using survivors’ voices to inform decisions and policies.
Strong regulation and oversight will keep private companies and public settings, including online environments, workplaces and the home, safe for children. They will reflect a culture that demands safety and is quick to respond to harm. Prevention and response programs from governments must be funded to match the scale of the problem, and technology must be regulated to remain safe as it evolves.
We envision a stronger culture of justice and accountability, with systems underpinned by a commitment to healing through restorative or even transformative justice. Justice will be accessible, survivor-centered, adapted for children where necessary, and hold adult perpetrators to account. We heard repeatedly the desire for prevention, justice and healing – all three, hand in hand.
4: Collaboration, innovation and learning
Achieving our goal is clearly a shared endeavor. To realize change, our field will need to give greater attention to collaboration and sharing resources, recognizing that the pace of progress will differ in different contexts across the world.
It will also be essential for those in the field to stay ahead of the curve, with initiatives that provide constant learning and adaptation. Our culture of research and innovation must also become more dynamic, diverse, practice-oriented and robust, while exploring neglected areas and settings that could teach us something new.
4: Collaboration, innovation and learning
Achieving our goal is clearly a shared endeavor. To realize change, our field will need to give greater attention to collaboration and sharing resources, recognizing that the pace of progress will differ in different contexts across the world.
It will also be essential for those in the field to stay ahead of the curve, with initiatives that provide constant learning and adaptation. Our culture of research and innovation must also become more dynamic, diverse, practice-oriented and robust, while exploring neglected areas and settings that could teach us something new.
4: Collaboration, innovation and learning
Achieving our goal is clearly a shared endeavor. To realize change, our field will need to give greater attention to collaboration and sharing resources, recognizing that the pace of progress will differ in different contexts across the world.
It will also be essential for those in the field to stay ahead of the curve, with initiatives that provide constant learning and adaptation. Our culture of research and innovation must also become more dynamic, diverse, practice-oriented and robust, while exploring neglected areas and settings that could teach us something new.
4: Collaboration, innovation and learning
Achieving our goal is clearly a shared endeavor. To realize change, our field will need to give greater attention to collaboration and sharing resources, recognizing that the pace of progress will differ in different contexts across the world.
It will also be essential for those in the field to stay ahead of the curve, with initiatives that provide constant learning and adaptation. Our culture of research and innovation must also become more dynamic, diverse, practice-oriented and robust, while exploring neglected areas and settings that could teach us something new.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else.
We heard in all our conversations a universal sense of desire for children to be safe above all else.
Sources of hope
We have a long way to go to realize this vision. Even so, there are many sources of hope and encouragement. Our stakeholders’ sentiment was that we have already come so far. Having a clear vision allows us to see where seeds and even green shoots of our vision already exist. If we can imagine it we can see it, and if we can see it we can grow it. We were extremely motivated by the courage, commitment and quality of work being done by every person we encountered, at all levels and across every continent.
These people were upbeat about the future, with good reason:
“There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.”
“There is an increasing social conscience, a sense of shared responsibility.”
“Public awareness is growing – the tectonic plates are shifting.”
One stakeholder from a political background said:
“Leaders’ attitudes have changed. There are champions in the [US] senate who walk the talk, provide budget and people. If we can offer them effective things to invest in, they will. We take the changes we are seeing in society today for granted, but they are the result of patient work over many years.”
These sentiments are already delivering tangible results. At high level, more sophisticated research and available evidence (including innovative, cross-sector interventions designed for systemic impact) give us confidence that “we know what good looks like”. We’re seeing bolder bids and more funds available to bring them to life.
In the field, survivor councils and commissions are being established. More support groups have mobilized, giving a voice to survivor, parent and youth advocates. They’re led by powerful, persuasive leaders, who are everywhere. Global commitments that galvanize progress to end childhood sexual violence, like the UN’s SDGs, are known and used across the world.
In legal systems, statutes of limitations are being overturned to facilitate justice for past offences, setting examples of models and standards that are being adopted in other jurisdictions. The culture is shifting and we have evidence of the power of individual testimony from people with lived experience in government settings across the world.
The Internet has been a force for good for children, where children learn, socialize and connect. Yet it also carries dangers. Public awareness is growing about ‘safety by design’ principles and there are mounting demands for regulation and greater accountability in the technology sector to ensure stronger online safety.
Hope is infectious and sharing our stories is deeply energizing. After reviewing today’s landscape, one veteran campaigner remarked:
“We are winning. We will win.”
We have a long way to go to realize this vision. Even so, there are many sources of hope and encouragement. Our stakeholders’ sentiment was that we have already come so far. Having a clear vision allows us to see where seeds and even green shoots of our vision already exist. If we can imagine it we can see it, and if we can see it we can grow it. We were extremely motivated by the courage, commitment and quality of work being done by every person we encountered, at all levels and across every continent.
These people were upbeat about the future, with good reason:
“There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.”
“There is an increasing social conscience, a sense of shared responsibility.”
“Public awareness is growing – the tectonic plates are shifting.”
One stakeholder from a political background said:
“Leaders’ attitudes have changed. There are champions in the [US] senate who walk the talk, provide budget and people. If we can offer them effective things to invest in, they will. We take the changes we are seeing in society today for granted, but they are the result of patient work over many years.”
These sentiments are already delivering tangible results. At high level, more sophisticated research and available evidence (including innovative, cross-sector interventions designed for systemic impact) give us confidence that “we know what good looks like”. We’re seeing bolder bids and more funds available to bring them to life.
In the field, survivor councils and commissions are being established. More support groups have mobilized, giving a voice to survivor, parent and youth advocates. They’re led by powerful, persuasive leaders, who are everywhere. Global commitments that galvanize progress to end childhood sexual violence, like the UN’s SDGs, are known and used across the world.
In legal systems, statutes of limitations are being overturned to facilitate justice for past offences, setting examples of models and standards that are being adopted in other jurisdictions. The culture is shifting and we have evidence of the power of individual testimony from people with lived experience in government settings across the world.
The Internet has been a force for good for children, where children learn, socialize and connect. Yet it also carries dangers. Public awareness is growing about ‘safety by design’ principles and there are mounting demands for regulation and greater accountability in the technology sector to ensure stronger online safety.
Hope is infectious and sharing our stories is deeply energizing. After reviewing today’s landscape, one veteran campaigner remarked:
“We are winning. We will win.”
We have a long way to go to realize this vision. Even so, there are many sources of hope and encouragement. Our stakeholders’ sentiment was that we have already come so far. Having a clear vision allows us to see where seeds and even green shoots of our vision already exist. If we can imagine it we can see it, and if we can see it we can grow it. We were extremely motivated by the courage, commitment and quality of work being done by every person we encountered, at all levels and across every continent.
These people were upbeat about the future, with good reason:
“There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.”
“There is an increasing social conscience, a sense of shared responsibility.”
“Public awareness is growing – the tectonic plates are shifting.”
One stakeholder from a political background said:
“Leaders’ attitudes have changed. There are champions in the [US] senate who walk the talk, provide budget and people. If we can offer them effective things to invest in, they will. We take the changes we are seeing in society today for granted, but they are the result of patient work over many years.”
These sentiments are already delivering tangible results. At high level, more sophisticated research and available evidence (including innovative, cross-sector interventions designed for systemic impact) give us confidence that “we know what good looks like”. We’re seeing bolder bids and more funds available to bring them to life.
In the field, survivor councils and commissions are being established. More support groups have mobilized, giving a voice to survivor, parent and youth advocates. They’re led by powerful, persuasive leaders, who are everywhere. Global commitments that galvanize progress to end childhood sexual violence, like the UN’s SDGs, are known and used across the world.
In legal systems, statutes of limitations are being overturned to facilitate justice for past offences, setting examples of models and standards that are being adopted in other jurisdictions. The culture is shifting and we have evidence of the power of individual testimony from people with lived experience in government settings across the world.
The Internet has been a force for good for children, where children learn, socialize and connect. Yet it also carries dangers. Public awareness is growing about ‘safety by design’ principles and there are mounting demands for regulation and greater accountability in the technology sector to ensure stronger online safety.
Hope is infectious and sharing our stories is deeply energizing. After reviewing today’s landscape, one veteran campaigner remarked:
“We are winning. We will win.”
We have a long way to go to realize this vision. Even so, there are many sources of hope and encouragement. Our stakeholders’ sentiment was that we have already come so far. Having a clear vision allows us to see where seeds and even green shoots of our vision already exist. If we can imagine it we can see it, and if we can see it we can grow it. We were extremely motivated by the courage, commitment and quality of work being done by every person we encountered, at all levels and across every continent.
These people were upbeat about the future, with good reason:
“There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.”
“There is an increasing social conscience, a sense of shared responsibility.”
“Public awareness is growing – the tectonic plates are shifting.”
One stakeholder from a political background said:
“Leaders’ attitudes have changed. There are champions in the [US] senate who walk the talk, provide budget and people. If we can offer them effective things to invest in, they will. We take the changes we are seeing in society today for granted, but they are the result of patient work over many years.”
These sentiments are already delivering tangible results. At high level, more sophisticated research and available evidence (including innovative, cross-sector interventions designed for systemic impact) give us confidence that “we know what good looks like”. We’re seeing bolder bids and more funds available to bring them to life.
In the field, survivor councils and commissions are being established. More support groups have mobilized, giving a voice to survivor, parent and youth advocates. They’re led by powerful, persuasive leaders, who are everywhere. Global commitments that galvanize progress to end childhood sexual violence, like the UN’s SDGs, are known and used across the world.
In legal systems, statutes of limitations are being overturned to facilitate justice for past offences, setting examples of models and standards that are being adopted in other jurisdictions. The culture is shifting and we have evidence of the power of individual testimony from people with lived experience in government settings across the world.
The Internet has been a force for good for children, where children learn, socialize and connect. Yet it also carries dangers. Public awareness is growing about ‘safety by design’ principles and there are mounting demands for regulation and greater accountability in the technology sector to ensure stronger online safety.
Hope is infectious and sharing our stories is deeply energizing. After reviewing today’s landscape, one veteran campaigner remarked:
“We are winning. We will win.”
There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.
There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.
There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.
There will always be outliers, but culture and societies can change.
Causes for concern
To achieve real change, we must be honest about what is frustrating further progress. None of these factors cancel out the many reasons for hope, but they must be acknowledged to provide essential context and guide our field’s approach.
Global
At a global level, many concerns relate to what the World Health Organization has called an ‘age of chaos’, where tangled challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, conflict, displacement, and migration vie for attention and resources. Many of today’s biggest issues intersect with childhood sexual violence, meaning progress must be made in other areas to create lasting change.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge. We heard about the dramatic shifts in the digital landscape, for example, with influencers and ‘fake news’ shaping narratives. We also heard about shifting demographics and the rise of urban living in regions such as Asia and Africa.
From a legal perspective, national legislation alone is not effective in tackling cross-border issues. We need greater regional and global collaboration. We must find ways to work across differences in language, political and legal systems, cultures, approach, evidence gathering, and resource allocation.
Cultural
Culture is another pervasive concern. The current stigma means advocating for resources and change is challenging. Often the most disturbing practices are the most difficult to bring to light. Culture wars and entrenched gender norms, which breed polarization and use misinformation to cause moral panic, can even recede progress. Stakeholders called this “demoralizing”, noting that this backlash can paint advocates for social change as dangerous, radical, anti-family and anti-government disruptors.
Outside of this, practitioners noted that the public and politicians are less likely to believe ending CSV is possible, despite the field’s firm belief that it is. There remains a stubborn belief that violence is an individual issue, rather than a reflection of institutional and systemic failures. That view tends to blame children, survivors and parents, rather than perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them.
There is also concern around making sure marginalized voices, which are less likely to be represented in data, are still part of the picture. In a session with DeafKidz International, where we heard from a group including deaf, blind, neurodivergent and physically disabled children, we noted concerns around being seen, heard, listened to and believed. They craved a world where they are included and cared for, with the freedom to help each other and to be “carefree children”.
Resourcing
Resourcing was a widespread concern, with civil society organizations spread thin and fighting powerful, anti-change forces. They explained that it is difficult to make time for collaboration when delivering their services is so consuming and urgent. There was also a desire to embrace more risk and flexibility to accommodate the rapidly changing landscape.
There are concerns around the quantity, quality and distribution of funding, with power imbalances between donors and recipients that perpetuate old patterns, colonial hierarchies and power structures. A small group of private donors essentially fund the majority of work in this sector. Governments at all levels need to prioritize this issue by allocating funding and resources to actors working on the ground.
Prevention-focused work
Stakeholders were particularly concerned about the lack of investment in research and innovation and funding for the delivery of prevention programs. Prevention is a route to addressing the upstream causes of childhood sexual violence. Practitioners talked about “band-aid” solutions and symptomatic responses, with little time, support or capacity for deeper, root cause, prevention-focused work.
Justice systems
In almost every conversation, we heard that justice can be difficult to access, often easily suppressed and routinely includes processes that are re-traumatizing, insensitive and unsatisfactory. This is important: securing public interest, political commitments, better legislation and stronger regulation rely ultimately for their impact on effective survivor- and child-centric systems of justice and accountability.
To achieve real change, we must be honest about what is frustrating further progress. None of these factors cancel out the many reasons for hope, but they must be acknowledged to provide essential context and guide our field’s approach.
Global
At a global level, many concerns relate to what the World Health Organization has called an ‘age of chaos’, where tangled challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, conflict, displacement, and migration vie for attention and resources. Many of today’s biggest issues intersect with childhood sexual violence, meaning progress must be made in other areas to create lasting change.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge. We heard about the dramatic shifts in the digital landscape, for example, with influencers and ‘fake news’ shaping narratives. We also heard about shifting demographics and the rise of urban living in regions such as Asia and Africa.
From a legal perspective, national legislation alone is not effective in tackling cross-border issues. We need greater regional and global collaboration. We must find ways to work across differences in language, political and legal systems, cultures, approach, evidence gathering, and resource allocation.
Cultural
Culture is another pervasive concern. The current stigma means advocating for resources and change is challenging. Often the most disturbing practices are the most difficult to bring to light. Culture wars and entrenched gender norms, which breed polarization and use misinformation to cause moral panic, can even recede progress. Stakeholders called this “demoralizing”, noting that this backlash can paint advocates for social change as dangerous, radical, anti-family and anti-government disruptors.
Outside of this, practitioners noted that the public and politicians are less likely to believe ending CSV is possible, despite the field’s firm belief that it is. There remains a stubborn belief that violence is an individual issue, rather than a reflection of institutional and systemic failures. That view tends to blame children, survivors and parents, rather than perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them.
There is also concern around making sure marginalized voices, which are less likely to be represented in data, are still part of the picture. In a session with DeafKidz International, where we heard from a group including deaf, blind, neurodivergent and physically disabled children, we noted concerns around being seen, heard, listened to and believed. They craved a world where they are included and cared for, with the freedom to help each other and to be “carefree children”.
Resourcing
Resourcing was a widespread concern, with civil society organizations spread thin and fighting powerful, anti-change forces. They explained that it is difficult to make time for collaboration when delivering their services is so consuming and urgent. There was also a desire to embrace more risk and flexibility to accommodate the rapidly changing landscape.
There are concerns around the quantity, quality and distribution of funding, with power imbalances between donors and recipients that perpetuate old patterns, colonial hierarchies and power structures. A small group of private donors essentially fund the majority of work in this sector. Governments at all levels need to prioritize this issue by allocating funding and resources to actors working on the ground.
Prevention-focused work
Stakeholders were particularly concerned about the lack of investment in research and innovation and funding for the delivery of prevention programs. Prevention is a route to addressing the upstream causes of childhood sexual violence. Practitioners talked about “band-aid” solutions and symptomatic responses, with little time, support or capacity for deeper, root cause, prevention-focused work.
Justice systems
In almost every conversation, we heard that justice can be difficult to access, often easily suppressed and routinely includes processes that are re-traumatizing, insensitive and unsatisfactory. This is important: securing public interest, political commitments, better legislation and stronger regulation rely ultimately for their impact on effective survivor- and child-centric systems of justice and accountability.
To achieve real change, we must be honest about what is frustrating further progress. None of these factors cancel out the many reasons for hope, but they must be acknowledged to provide essential context and guide our field’s approach.
Global
At a global level, many concerns relate to what the World Health Organization has called an ‘age of chaos’, where tangled challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, conflict, displacement, and migration vie for attention and resources. Many of today’s biggest issues intersect with childhood sexual violence, meaning progress must be made in other areas to create lasting change.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge. We heard about the dramatic shifts in the digital landscape, for example, with influencers and ‘fake news’ shaping narratives. We also heard about shifting demographics and the rise of urban living in regions such as Asia and Africa.
From a legal perspective, national legislation alone is not effective in tackling cross-border issues. We need greater regional and global collaboration. We must find ways to work across differences in language, political and legal systems, cultures, approach, evidence gathering, and resource allocation.
Cultural
Culture is another pervasive concern. The current stigma means advocating for resources and change is challenging. Often the most disturbing practices are the most difficult to bring to light. Culture wars and entrenched gender norms, which breed polarization and use misinformation to cause moral panic, can even recede progress. Stakeholders called this “demoralizing”, noting that this backlash can paint advocates for social change as dangerous, radical, anti-family and anti-government disruptors.
Outside of this, practitioners noted that the public and politicians are less likely to believe ending CSV is possible, despite the field’s firm belief that it is. There remains a stubborn belief that violence is an individual issue, rather than a reflection of institutional and systemic failures. That view tends to blame children, survivors and parents, rather than perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them.
There is also concern around making sure marginalized voices, which are less likely to be represented in data, are still part of the picture. In a session with DeafKidz International, where we heard from a group including deaf, blind, neurodivergent and physically disabled children, we noted concerns around being seen, heard, listened to and believed. They craved a world where they are included and cared for, with the freedom to help each other and to be “carefree children”.
Resourcing
Resourcing was a widespread concern, with civil society organizations spread thin and fighting powerful, anti-change forces. They explained that it is difficult to make time for collaboration when delivering their services is so consuming and urgent. There was also a desire to embrace more risk and flexibility to accommodate the rapidly changing landscape.
There are concerns around the quantity, quality and distribution of funding, with power imbalances between donors and recipients that perpetuate old patterns, colonial hierarchies and power structures. A small group of private donors essentially fund the majority of work in this sector. Governments at all levels need to prioritize this issue by allocating funding and resources to actors working on the ground.
Prevention-focused work
Stakeholders were particularly concerned about the lack of investment in research and innovation and funding for the delivery of prevention programs. Prevention is a route to addressing the upstream causes of childhood sexual violence. Practitioners talked about “band-aid” solutions and symptomatic responses, with little time, support or capacity for deeper, root cause, prevention-focused work.
Justice systems
In almost every conversation, we heard that justice can be difficult to access, often easily suppressed and routinely includes processes that are re-traumatizing, insensitive and unsatisfactory. This is important: securing public interest, political commitments, better legislation and stronger regulation rely ultimately for their impact on effective survivor- and child-centric systems of justice and accountability.
To achieve real change, we must be honest about what is frustrating further progress. None of these factors cancel out the many reasons for hope, but they must be acknowledged to provide essential context and guide our field’s approach.
Global
At a global level, many concerns relate to what the World Health Organization has called an ‘age of chaos’, where tangled challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, conflict, displacement, and migration vie for attention and resources. Many of today’s biggest issues intersect with childhood sexual violence, meaning progress must be made in other areas to create lasting change.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge. We heard about the dramatic shifts in the digital landscape, for example, with influencers and ‘fake news’ shaping narratives. We also heard about shifting demographics and the rise of urban living in regions such as Asia and Africa.
From a legal perspective, national legislation alone is not effective in tackling cross-border issues. We need greater regional and global collaboration. We must find ways to work across differences in language, political and legal systems, cultures, approach, evidence gathering, and resource allocation.
Cultural
Culture is another pervasive concern. The current stigma means advocating for resources and change is challenging. Often the most disturbing practices are the most difficult to bring to light. Culture wars and entrenched gender norms, which breed polarization and use misinformation to cause moral panic, can even recede progress. Stakeholders called this “demoralizing”, noting that this backlash can paint advocates for social change as dangerous, radical, anti-family and anti-government disruptors.
Outside of this, practitioners noted that the public and politicians are less likely to believe ending CSV is possible, despite the field’s firm belief that it is. There remains a stubborn belief that violence is an individual issue, rather than a reflection of institutional and systemic failures. That view tends to blame children, survivors and parents, rather than perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them.
There is also concern around making sure marginalized voices, which are less likely to be represented in data, are still part of the picture. In a session with DeafKidz International, where we heard from a group including deaf, blind, neurodivergent and physically disabled children, we noted concerns around being seen, heard, listened to and believed. They craved a world where they are included and cared for, with the freedom to help each other and to be “carefree children”.
Resourcing
Resourcing was a widespread concern, with civil society organizations spread thin and fighting powerful, anti-change forces. They explained that it is difficult to make time for collaboration when delivering their services is so consuming and urgent. There was also a desire to embrace more risk and flexibility to accommodate the rapidly changing landscape.
There are concerns around the quantity, quality and distribution of funding, with power imbalances between donors and recipients that perpetuate old patterns, colonial hierarchies and power structures. A small group of private donors essentially fund the majority of work in this sector. Governments at all levels need to prioritize this issue by allocating funding and resources to actors working on the ground.
Prevention-focused work
Stakeholders were particularly concerned about the lack of investment in research and innovation and funding for the delivery of prevention programs. Prevention is a route to addressing the upstream causes of childhood sexual violence. Practitioners talked about “band-aid” solutions and symptomatic responses, with little time, support or capacity for deeper, root cause, prevention-focused work.
Justice systems
In almost every conversation, we heard that justice can be difficult to access, often easily suppressed and routinely includes processes that are re-traumatizing, insensitive and unsatisfactory. This is important: securing public interest, political commitments, better legislation and stronger regulation rely ultimately for their impact on effective survivor- and child-centric systems of justice and accountability.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge.
Keeping up with the pace and complexity of global change is its own challenge.
Getting into action
Our conversations have equipped us with a wealth of evidence, fresh perspectives and invaluable insights. They have allowed us to create a map of the field from within and discover a compass that points the way towards ending childhood sexual violence. This journey started long ago, but we now have a good sense of how to accelerate progress.
Our conversations have equipped us with a wealth of evidence, fresh perspectives and invaluable insights. They have allowed us to create a map of the field from within and discover a compass that points the way towards ending childhood sexual violence. This journey started long ago, but we now have a good sense of how to accelerate progress.
Our conversations have equipped us with a wealth of evidence, fresh perspectives and invaluable insights. They have allowed us to create a map of the field from within and discover a compass that points the way towards ending childhood sexual violence. This journey started long ago, but we now have a good sense of how to accelerate progress.
Our conversations have equipped us with a wealth of evidence, fresh perspectives and invaluable insights. They have allowed us to create a map of the field from within and discover a compass that points the way towards ending childhood sexual violence. This journey started long ago, but we now have a good sense of how to accelerate progress.
Scale what works and explore what could
Repeatedly, stakeholders expressed the view that we should scale what works: scale successful initiatives and implement initiatives based on similar principles (adjusted for cultural sensitivities) across more regions. Our initial Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence report shared evidence on effective strategies and our conversations have helped us add new examples from a variety of sectors and countries. We also commissioned a wide-ranging series of interviews from Solutions Insights Lab identifying innovative responses and strategies, all available at https://solutionsforcsv.org.
At the same time, there was a clear note of caution around putting all resources into scaling as it can exclude creativity and innovation. We also need to invest in and test new ideas. We can take measured risks that will allow novel practice to produce new evidence, alongside more familiar evidence-guided approaches.
Global alignment around what works was viewed as something that can “move mountains”. There needs to be space for new approaches too. One participant embraced the broadest perspective: “We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.”
Scale what works and explore what could
Repeatedly, stakeholders expressed the view that we should scale what works: scale successful initiatives and implement initiatives based on similar principles (adjusted for cultural sensitivities) across more regions. Our initial Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence report shared evidence on effective strategies and our conversations have helped us add new examples from a variety of sectors and countries. We also commissioned a wide-ranging series of interviews from Solutions Insights Lab identifying innovative responses and strategies, all available at https://solutionsforcsv.org.
At the same time, there was a clear note of caution around putting all resources into scaling as it can exclude creativity and innovation. We also need to invest in and test new ideas. We can take measured risks that will allow novel practice to produce new evidence, alongside more familiar evidence-guided approaches.
Global alignment around what works was viewed as something that can “move mountains”. There needs to be space for new approaches too. One participant embraced the broadest perspective: “We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.”
Scale what works and explore what could
Repeatedly, stakeholders expressed the view that we should scale what works: scale successful initiatives and implement initiatives based on similar principles (adjusted for cultural sensitivities) across more regions. Our initial Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence report shared evidence on effective strategies and our conversations have helped us add new examples from a variety of sectors and countries. We also commissioned a wide-ranging series of interviews from Solutions Insights Lab identifying innovative responses and strategies, all available at https://solutionsforcsv.org.
At the same time, there was a clear note of caution around putting all resources into scaling as it can exclude creativity and innovation. We also need to invest in and test new ideas. We can take measured risks that will allow novel practice to produce new evidence, alongside more familiar evidence-guided approaches.
Global alignment around what works was viewed as something that can “move mountains”. There needs to be space for new approaches too. One participant embraced the broadest perspective: “We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.”
Scale what works and explore what could
Repeatedly, stakeholders expressed the view that we should scale what works: scale successful initiatives and implement initiatives based on similar principles (adjusted for cultural sensitivities) across more regions. Our initial Getting to Zero: A Review of the Evidence to End Childhood Sexual Violence report shared evidence on effective strategies and our conversations have helped us add new examples from a variety of sectors and countries. We also commissioned a wide-ranging series of interviews from Solutions Insights Lab identifying innovative responses and strategies, all available at https://solutionsforcsv.org.
At the same time, there was a clear note of caution around putting all resources into scaling as it can exclude creativity and innovation. We also need to invest in and test new ideas. We can take measured risks that will allow novel practice to produce new evidence, alongside more familiar evidence-guided approaches.
Global alignment around what works was viewed as something that can “move mountains”. There needs to be space for new approaches too. One participant embraced the broadest perspective: “We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.”
Focus on critical themes
Childhood sexual violence is a nuanced problem, so it is difficult to boil it down without overly simplifying the issue. Still, ending childhood sexual violence means navigating a complex, global sociopolitical landscape. Focusing on critical areas, considered in the fuller context of our field, will help us take targeted, effective action across the world.
Through our conversations, we have identified six themes that are critical, perhaps under-represented elsewhere, and ripe with opportunity for cross-sector, cross-practice alliances. Our conversations with stakeholders suggest that effective work in these areas is likely to make a significant contribution towards enabling the realization of our shared vision.
Focus on critical themes
Childhood sexual violence is a nuanced problem, so it is difficult to boil it down without overly simplifying the issue. Still, ending childhood sexual violence means navigating a complex, global sociopolitical landscape. Focusing on critical areas, considered in the fuller context of our field, will help us take targeted, effective action across the world.
Through our conversations, we have identified six themes that are critical, perhaps under-represented elsewhere, and ripe with opportunity for cross-sector, cross-practice alliances. Our conversations with stakeholders suggest that effective work in these areas is likely to make a significant contribution towards enabling the realization of our shared vision.
Focus on critical themes
Childhood sexual violence is a nuanced problem, so it is difficult to boil it down without overly simplifying the issue. Still, ending childhood sexual violence means navigating a complex, global sociopolitical landscape. Focusing on critical areas, considered in the fuller context of our field, will help us take targeted, effective action across the world.
Through our conversations, we have identified six themes that are critical, perhaps under-represented elsewhere, and ripe with opportunity for cross-sector, cross-practice alliances. Our conversations with stakeholders suggest that effective work in these areas is likely to make a significant contribution towards enabling the realization of our shared vision.
Focus on critical themes
Childhood sexual violence is a nuanced problem, so it is difficult to boil it down without overly simplifying the issue. Still, ending childhood sexual violence means navigating a complex, global sociopolitical landscape. Focusing on critical areas, considered in the fuller context of our field, will help us take targeted, effective action across the world.
Through our conversations, we have identified six themes that are critical, perhaps under-represented elsewhere, and ripe with opportunity for cross-sector, cross-practice alliances. Our conversations with stakeholders suggest that effective work in these areas is likely to make a significant contribution towards enabling the realization of our shared vision.
Six critical themes ripe for cross-sector practice and alliances
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors
We need to pay attention to the essential issues of alignment and resourcing across the field. Leaders and activists in the field, at all levels, need to be supported, financed and embraced as part of a system-wide effort. Long-term flexible funding should be available to all stakeholders, regardless of size or geography. And proven, successful interventions need funding to scale out, wherever they are. Addressing childhood sexual violence as a systemic problem requires a systemic response from a diverse and aligned community. National and regional groups will need support to grow and lead. In tackling CSV the field as a whole needs to seek out strong and productive synergies with stakeholders in other sectors.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background
Transforming social norms is critical to longer-term change. Shifting blame away from survivors or their families to perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them is a prerequisite for addressing the roots of CSV. It will help to grow a broad-based consensus that CSV is preventable. For the most part the move will start with shifting stereotypes and ingrained assumptions – celebrating survivors for their courage and resilience, viewing children as people with agency and autonomy who develop into adulthood not the property of their caretakers, abandoning gender stereotypes in favor of diversity and inclusion, and supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn
There is great concern in the field about the relatively new ‘institutional space’ that is the digital world online. Our stakeholders recognized the great benefits of this space for connection, for learning, for play and entertainment. Yet it also carries dangers, like other unattended spaces. It remains relatively lightly regulated at present. We need to see that change, with strong regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance, including strong global collaboration among national governments to enforce the regulation of digital platforms. Campaigning and activism have shown some success in seeking to hold tech companies accountable for their wider influence. Tech companies need to build on their investment in innovation to create safer environments. All companies should be embracing safe design practices, and committing to clean up their platforms by removing, reporting and preventing child sexual abuse material.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing
Our theory of change suggests that generating political will to prompt government action on the issue of childhood sexual violence is likely to be highly influential on the entire field. We heard many examples from stakeholders about the power of personal testimony, on their terms and when ready, to move political leaders to action. We need to see more of this – with advocates active in political spaces and driving political action, whilst also exploring more and better ways to enable children themselves to participate in the political and policy process. Broad movements and targeted campaigns will increase public awareness and demands for political action – increasingly within a frame that accepts ending childhood sexual violence as a realistic goal. We need to support political leaders and decision makers to take positive action and find ways to offer them gratitude and encouragement, beyond their own knowledge that they are doing the right thing.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale
Robust, high-quality research, funded across the globe and particularly in low-middle income countries will make a significant contribution to the sector. Prevention research is a particular priority. So too should be including currently marginalized groups in research studies, e.g. boys, children with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ children. Given the complexity of the issues involved, research that focuses on systemic, intersectional interventions with multiple outcomes will be especially valuable, building on what is currently an impressive but narrow base. Stakeholders also want to see evidence and research data put to good use, with locally developed, scalable solutions being recognized and funded.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective
All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations to protect children have a big part to play, so long as they are fully and consistently enforced. Public condemnation, reputational harm and material sanctions for failure also have a role. At the same time, we should celebrate governments and institutions that embrace change, honor the commitments they make, and privilege child protection. Private sector businesses can be incentivized to do the same. Where there is law in place strategic litigation can be used to promote accountability. And justice systems need to be reformed to become better fit for purpose, survivor- and child-centric, sensitive to trauma and contributing to healing.
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors
We need to pay attention to the essential issues of alignment and resourcing across the field. Leaders and activists in the field, at all levels, need to be supported, financed and embraced as part of a system-wide effort. Long-term flexible funding should be available to all stakeholders, regardless of size or geography. And proven, successful interventions need funding to scale out, wherever they are. Addressing childhood sexual violence as a systemic problem requires a systemic response from a diverse and aligned community. National and regional groups will need support to grow and lead. In tackling CSV the field as a whole needs to seek out strong and productive synergies with stakeholders in other sectors.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background
Transforming social norms is critical to longer-term change. Shifting blame away from survivors or their families to perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them is a prerequisite for addressing the roots of CSV. It will help to grow a broad-based consensus that CSV is preventable. For the most part the move will start with shifting stereotypes and ingrained assumptions – celebrating survivors for their courage and resilience, viewing children as people with agency and autonomy who develop into adulthood not the property of their caretakers, abandoning gender stereotypes in favor of diversity and inclusion, and supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn
There is great concern in the field about the relatively new ‘institutional space’ that is the digital world online. Our stakeholders recognized the great benefits of this space for connection, for learning, for play and entertainment. Yet it also carries dangers, like other unattended spaces. It remains relatively lightly regulated at present. We need to see that change, with strong regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance, including strong global collaboration among national governments to enforce the regulation of digital platforms. Campaigning and activism have shown some success in seeking to hold tech companies accountable for their wider influence. Tech companies need to build on their investment in innovation to create safer environments. All companies should be embracing safe design practices, and committing to clean up their platforms by removing, reporting and preventing child sexual abuse material.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing
Our theory of change suggests that generating political will to prompt government action on the issue of childhood sexual violence is likely to be highly influential on the entire field. We heard many examples from stakeholders about the power of personal testimony, on their terms and when ready, to move political leaders to action. We need to see more of this – with advocates active in political spaces and driving political action, whilst also exploring more and better ways to enable children themselves to participate in the political and policy process. Broad movements and targeted campaigns will increase public awareness and demands for political action – increasingly within a frame that accepts ending childhood sexual violence as a realistic goal. We need to support political leaders and decision makers to take positive action and find ways to offer them gratitude and encouragement, beyond their own knowledge that they are doing the right thing.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale
Robust, high-quality research, funded across the globe and particularly in low-middle income countries will make a significant contribution to the sector. Prevention research is a particular priority. So too should be including currently marginalized groups in research studies, e.g. boys, children with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ children. Given the complexity of the issues involved, research that focuses on systemic, intersectional interventions with multiple outcomes will be especially valuable, building on what is currently an impressive but narrow base. Stakeholders also want to see evidence and research data put to good use, with locally developed, scalable solutions being recognized and funded.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective
All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations to protect children have a big part to play, so long as they are fully and consistently enforced. Public condemnation, reputational harm and material sanctions for failure also have a role. At the same time, we should celebrate governments and institutions that embrace change, honor the commitments they make, and privilege child protection. Private sector businesses can be incentivized to do the same. Where there is law in place strategic litigation can be used to promote accountability. And justice systems need to be reformed to become better fit for purpose, survivor- and child-centric, sensitive to trauma and contributing to healing.
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors
We need to pay attention to the essential issues of alignment and resourcing across the field. Leaders and activists in the field, at all levels, need to be supported, financed and embraced as part of a system-wide effort. Long-term flexible funding should be available to all stakeholders, regardless of size or geography. And proven, successful interventions need funding to scale out, wherever they are. Addressing childhood sexual violence as a systemic problem requires a systemic response from a diverse and aligned community. National and regional groups will need support to grow and lead. In tackling CSV the field as a whole needs to seek out strong and productive synergies with stakeholders in other sectors.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background
Transforming social norms is critical to longer-term change. Shifting blame away from survivors or their families to perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them is a prerequisite for addressing the roots of CSV. It will help to grow a broad-based consensus that CSV is preventable. For the most part the move will start with shifting stereotypes and ingrained assumptions – celebrating survivors for their courage and resilience, viewing children as people with agency and autonomy who develop into adulthood not the property of their caretakers, abandoning gender stereotypes in favor of diversity and inclusion, and supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn
There is great concern in the field about the relatively new ‘institutional space’ that is the digital world online. Our stakeholders recognized the great benefits of this space for connection, for learning, for play and entertainment. Yet it also carries dangers, like other unattended spaces. It remains relatively lightly regulated at present. We need to see that change, with strong regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance, including strong global collaboration among national governments to enforce the regulation of digital platforms. Campaigning and activism have shown some success in seeking to hold tech companies accountable for their wider influence. Tech companies need to build on their investment in innovation to create safer environments. All companies should be embracing safe design practices, and committing to clean up their platforms by removing, reporting and preventing child sexual abuse material.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing
Our theory of change suggests that generating political will to prompt government action on the issue of childhood sexual violence is likely to be highly influential on the entire field. We heard many examples from stakeholders about the power of personal testimony, on their terms and when ready, to move political leaders to action. We need to see more of this – with advocates active in political spaces and driving political action, whilst also exploring more and better ways to enable children themselves to participate in the political and policy process. Broad movements and targeted campaigns will increase public awareness and demands for political action – increasingly within a frame that accepts ending childhood sexual violence as a realistic goal. We need to support political leaders and decision makers to take positive action and find ways to offer them gratitude and encouragement, beyond their own knowledge that they are doing the right thing.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale
Robust, high-quality research, funded across the globe and particularly in low-middle income countries will make a significant contribution to the sector. Prevention research is a particular priority. So too should be including currently marginalized groups in research studies, e.g. boys, children with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ children. Given the complexity of the issues involved, research that focuses on systemic, intersectional interventions with multiple outcomes will be especially valuable, building on what is currently an impressive but narrow base. Stakeholders also want to see evidence and research data put to good use, with locally developed, scalable solutions being recognized and funded.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective
All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations to protect children have a big part to play, so long as they are fully and consistently enforced. Public condemnation, reputational harm and material sanctions for failure also have a role. At the same time, we should celebrate governments and institutions that embrace change, honor the commitments they make, and privilege child protection. Private sector businesses can be incentivized to do the same. Where there is law in place strategic litigation can be used to promote accountability. And justice systems need to be reformed to become better fit for purpose, survivor- and child-centric, sensitive to trauma and contributing to healing.
Stakeholders working to end CSV are resourced, united and connected across sectors
We need to pay attention to the essential issues of alignment and resourcing across the field. Leaders and activists in the field, at all levels, need to be supported, financed and embraced as part of a system-wide effort. Long-term flexible funding should be available to all stakeholders, regardless of size or geography. And proven, successful interventions need funding to scale out, wherever they are. Addressing childhood sexual violence as a systemic problem requires a systemic response from a diverse and aligned community. National and regional groups will need support to grow and lead. In tackling CSV the field as a whole needs to seek out strong and productive synergies with stakeholders in other sectors.
Social norms shift to protect and nurture children and adolescents, regardless of gender or background
Transforming social norms is critical to longer-term change. Shifting blame away from survivors or their families to perpetrators and the systems, institutions and structures that facilitate them is a prerequisite for addressing the roots of CSV. It will help to grow a broad-based consensus that CSV is preventable. For the most part the move will start with shifting stereotypes and ingrained assumptions – celebrating survivors for their courage and resilience, viewing children as people with agency and autonomy who develop into adulthood not the property of their caretakers, abandoning gender stereotypes in favor of diversity and inclusion, and supporting adolescents to develop safe and healthy peer relationships.
Safe digital spaces where children can play and learn
There is great concern in the field about the relatively new ‘institutional space’ that is the digital world online. Our stakeholders recognized the great benefits of this space for connection, for learning, for play and entertainment. Yet it also carries dangers, like other unattended spaces. It remains relatively lightly regulated at present. We need to see that change, with strong regulation of tech companies and mechanisms to enforce compliance, including strong global collaboration among national governments to enforce the regulation of digital platforms. Campaigning and activism have shown some success in seeking to hold tech companies accountable for their wider influence. Tech companies need to build on their investment in innovation to create safer environments. All companies should be embracing safe design practices, and committing to clean up their platforms by removing, reporting and preventing child sexual abuse material.
Political will exists to end CSV, which is evident in action and financing
Our theory of change suggests that generating political will to prompt government action on the issue of childhood sexual violence is likely to be highly influential on the entire field. We heard many examples from stakeholders about the power of personal testimony, on their terms and when ready, to move political leaders to action. We need to see more of this – with advocates active in political spaces and driving political action, whilst also exploring more and better ways to enable children themselves to participate in the political and policy process. Broad movements and targeted campaigns will increase public awareness and demands for political action – increasingly within a frame that accepts ending childhood sexual violence as a realistic goal. We need to support political leaders and decision makers to take positive action and find ways to offer them gratitude and encouragement, beyond their own knowledge that they are doing the right thing.
Prevention, healing and justice efforts are rooted in evidence, with ability to scale
Robust, high-quality research, funded across the globe and particularly in low-middle income countries will make a significant contribution to the sector. Prevention research is a particular priority. So too should be including currently marginalized groups in research studies, e.g. boys, children with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ children. Given the complexity of the issues involved, research that focuses on systemic, intersectional interventions with multiple outcomes will be especially valuable, building on what is currently an impressive but narrow base. Stakeholders also want to see evidence and research data put to good use, with locally developed, scalable solutions being recognized and funded.
Accountability among governments and institutions is robust and effective
All our public and private institutions should be safe places. Laws and regulations to protect children have a big part to play, so long as they are fully and consistently enforced. Public condemnation, reputational harm and material sanctions for failure also have a role. At the same time, we should celebrate governments and institutions that embrace change, honor the commitments they make, and privilege child protection. Private sector businesses can be incentivized to do the same. Where there is law in place strategic litigation can be used to promote accountability. And justice systems need to be reformed to become better fit for purpose, survivor- and child-centric, sensitive to trauma and contributing to healing.
We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.
We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.
We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.
We need people doing the work their heart calls them to do, globally and locally, and at all levels.
Strengthening the field
Aside from these six critical themes, we also identified measures that can contribute to strengthening the field overall. We asked stakeholders what could be added or reevaluated to help organizations be more effective in realizing our collective vision.
Invest in capacity and leadership
Our field relies on civil society organizations, and their leaders, to drive actions to eliminate childhood sexual violence. We need to support, protect and develop these groups. We cannot expect to achieve our aims without investing in the means for action. We heard lots of calls for funding to help develop and spread specialist skills in the sector, for example training to engage with sensory-impaired individuals, lead trauma-informed practice, and to support leadership development.
Stakeholders also identified the need to grow an increased competence to facilitate difficult conversations within the field, exploring points of significant tension where they occur.
Strengthen our field’s infrastructure
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential. Stakeholders were excited to come together and speak with a shared voice, to support each other, to share resources and learning. It is essential to strengthen the collaborative infrastructure of our sector. That will contribute to effective movement building. Citing the global movement that has brought the climate emergency to prominence, stakeholders expressed desire to similarly “mobilize an ecosystem of change”.
Stronger campaigning to shift the landscape
Some stakeholders want shared communication resources to facilitate campaigning in our over-stretched sector, allowing groups to lift core messages, access sympathetic journalists and leverage key data with ease. There could also be shared learning and development resources to help groups embody effective 21st-century campaigning, activism and movement building that drives real change. The message should be positive, global in outlook, based in hope and informed by evidence to motivate action and change – being tough on issues but soft on people to account for personal experiences.
Address root causes
Social change work relies on three strands - scaling up, scaling out and scaling deep. Scaling up focuses on changing policies, regulations and laws. Scaling out looks to spread effective changes across geographies. Scaling deep is about shifting the underlying values and cultures that allow childhood sexual violence to happen.
In the CSV prevention space, scaling deep means listening to human experience alongside technical, scientific, and political ideas. One stakeholder commented:
Aside from these six critical themes, we also identified measures that can contribute to strengthening the field overall. We asked stakeholders what could be added or reevaluated to help organizations be more effective in realizing our collective vision.
Invest in capacity and leadership
Our field relies on civil society organizations, and their leaders, to drive actions to eliminate childhood sexual violence. We need to support, protect and develop these groups. We cannot expect to achieve our aims without investing in the means for action. We heard lots of calls for funding to help develop and spread specialist skills in the sector, for example training to engage with sensory-impaired individuals, lead trauma-informed practice, and to support leadership development.
Stakeholders also identified the need to grow an increased competence to facilitate difficult conversations within the field, exploring points of significant tension where they occur.
Strengthen our field’s infrastructure
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential. Stakeholders were excited to come together and speak with a shared voice, to support each other, to share resources and learning. It is essential to strengthen the collaborative infrastructure of our sector. That will contribute to effective movement building. Citing the global movement that has brought the climate emergency to prominence, stakeholders expressed desire to similarly “mobilize an ecosystem of change”.
Stronger campaigning to shift the landscape
Some stakeholders want shared communication resources to facilitate campaigning in our over-stretched sector, allowing groups to lift core messages, access sympathetic journalists and leverage key data with ease. There could also be shared learning and development resources to help groups embody effective 21st-century campaigning, activism and movement building that drives real change. The message should be positive, global in outlook, based in hope and informed by evidence to motivate action and change – being tough on issues but soft on people to account for personal experiences.
Address root causes
Social change work relies on three strands - scaling up, scaling out and scaling deep. Scaling up focuses on changing policies, regulations and laws. Scaling out looks to spread effective changes across geographies. Scaling deep is about shifting the underlying values and cultures that allow childhood sexual violence to happen.
In the CSV prevention space, scaling deep means listening to human experience alongside technical, scientific, and political ideas. One stakeholder commented:
Aside from these six critical themes, we also identified measures that can contribute to strengthening the field overall. We asked stakeholders what could be added or reevaluated to help organizations be more effective in realizing our collective vision.
Invest in capacity and leadership
Our field relies on civil society organizations, and their leaders, to drive actions to eliminate childhood sexual violence. We need to support, protect and develop these groups. We cannot expect to achieve our aims without investing in the means for action. We heard lots of calls for funding to help develop and spread specialist skills in the sector, for example training to engage with sensory-impaired individuals, lead trauma-informed practice, and to support leadership development.
Stakeholders also identified the need to grow an increased competence to facilitate difficult conversations within the field, exploring points of significant tension where they occur.
Strengthen our field’s infrastructure
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential. Stakeholders were excited to come together and speak with a shared voice, to support each other, to share resources and learning. It is essential to strengthen the collaborative infrastructure of our sector. That will contribute to effective movement building. Citing the global movement that has brought the climate emergency to prominence, stakeholders expressed desire to similarly “mobilize an ecosystem of change”.
Stronger campaigning to shift the landscape
Some stakeholders want shared communication resources to facilitate campaigning in our over-stretched sector, allowing groups to lift core messages, access sympathetic journalists and leverage key data with ease. There could also be shared learning and development resources to help groups embody effective 21st-century campaigning, activism and movement building that drives real change. The message should be positive, global in outlook, based in hope and informed by evidence to motivate action and change – being tough on issues but soft on people to account for personal experiences.
Address root causes
Social change work relies on three strands - scaling up, scaling out and scaling deep. Scaling up focuses on changing policies, regulations and laws. Scaling out looks to spread effective changes across geographies. Scaling deep is about shifting the underlying values and cultures that allow childhood sexual violence to happen.
In the CSV prevention space, scaling deep means listening to human experience alongside technical, scientific, and political ideas. One stakeholder commented:
Aside from these six critical themes, we also identified measures that can contribute to strengthening the field overall. We asked stakeholders what could be added or reevaluated to help organizations be more effective in realizing our collective vision.
Invest in capacity and leadership
Our field relies on civil society organizations, and their leaders, to drive actions to eliminate childhood sexual violence. We need to support, protect and develop these groups. We cannot expect to achieve our aims without investing in the means for action. We heard lots of calls for funding to help develop and spread specialist skills in the sector, for example training to engage with sensory-impaired individuals, lead trauma-informed practice, and to support leadership development.
Stakeholders also identified the need to grow an increased competence to facilitate difficult conversations within the field, exploring points of significant tension where they occur.
Strengthen our field’s infrastructure
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential. Stakeholders were excited to come together and speak with a shared voice, to support each other, to share resources and learning. It is essential to strengthen the collaborative infrastructure of our sector. That will contribute to effective movement building. Citing the global movement that has brought the climate emergency to prominence, stakeholders expressed desire to similarly “mobilize an ecosystem of change”.
Stronger campaigning to shift the landscape
Some stakeholders want shared communication resources to facilitate campaigning in our over-stretched sector, allowing groups to lift core messages, access sympathetic journalists and leverage key data with ease. There could also be shared learning and development resources to help groups embody effective 21st-century campaigning, activism and movement building that drives real change. The message should be positive, global in outlook, based in hope and informed by evidence to motivate action and change – being tough on issues but soft on people to account for personal experiences.
Address root causes
Social change work relies on three strands - scaling up, scaling out and scaling deep. Scaling up focuses on changing policies, regulations and laws. Scaling out looks to spread effective changes across geographies. Scaling deep is about shifting the underlying values and cultures that allow childhood sexual violence to happen.
In the CSV prevention space, scaling deep means listening to human experience alongside technical, scientific, and political ideas. One stakeholder commented:
“This is not a disease to be eradicated with a vaccine or a treatment. It is a social crisis.”
“This is not a disease to be eradicated with a vaccine or a treatment. It is a social crisis.”
“This is not a disease to be eradicated with a vaccine or a treatment. It is a social crisis.”
“This is not a disease to be eradicated with a vaccine or a treatment. It is a social crisis.”
Alongside technical interventions, we must engage in patient healing work to restore what perpetrators are missing and CSV takes away from survivors. As one stakeholder phrased it:
Alongside technical interventions, we must engage in patient healing work to restore what perpetrators are missing and CSV takes away from survivors. As one stakeholder phrased it:
Alongside technical interventions, we must engage in patient healing work to restore what perpetrators are missing and CSV takes away from survivors. As one stakeholder phrased it:
Alongside technical interventions, we must engage in patient healing work to restore what perpetrators are missing and CSV takes away from survivors. As one stakeholder phrased it:
“We should focus on healing and wholeness. Healing is a form of prevention. We must address people’s brokenness.”
“We should focus on healing and wholeness. Healing is a form of prevention. We must address people’s brokenness.”
“We should focus on healing and wholeness. Healing is a form of prevention. We must address people’s brokenness.”
“We should focus on healing and wholeness. Healing is a form of prevention. We must address people’s brokenness.”
Another stakeholder remarked on the “complex depths” of many abuse cases, explaining:
Another stakeholder remarked on the “complex depths” of many abuse cases, explaining:
Another stakeholder remarked on the “complex depths” of many abuse cases, explaining:
Another stakeholder remarked on the “complex depths” of many abuse cases, explaining:
“Parents are often abusers, peer-to-peer abuse is on the rise, and those abused themselves often become abusers in turn. Most abusers have a relationship with the children and young people they abuse, often within the family.”
“Parents are often abusers, peer-to-peer abuse is on the rise, and those abused themselves often become abusers in turn. Most abusers have a relationship with the children and young people they abuse, often within the family.”
“Parents are often abusers, peer-to-peer abuse is on the rise, and those abused themselves often become abusers in turn. Most abusers have a relationship with the children and young people they abuse, often within the family.”
“Parents are often abusers, peer-to-peer abuse is on the rise, and those abused themselves often become abusers in turn. Most abusers have a relationship with the children and young people they abuse, often within the family.”
Our conversations highlighted the need to allocate more resources to support children and families. If we can bring “the marginalized back from the margins”, where they are prey to exploitation and violence, we can fight social ills like childhood sexual violence.
Profit is also a powerful driver of practices that prevent societal healing, such as the exploitation of vulnerable children or the pornography industry. Scaling deep could also mean exploring how the economy facilitates harm, investigating philosopher Michael Sandel’s “moral limits of markets” and new concepts such as the wellbeing economy.
There are lots of other ways to scale deep, but the critical move remains the same: there must be space to explore underlying values, structures of power and the psychological depth evident in the human system. One stakeholder summed it up by saying:
Our conversations highlighted the need to allocate more resources to support children and families. If we can bring “the marginalized back from the margins”, where they are prey to exploitation and violence, we can fight social ills like childhood sexual violence.
Profit is also a powerful driver of practices that prevent societal healing, such as the exploitation of vulnerable children or the pornography industry. Scaling deep could also mean exploring how the economy facilitates harm, investigating philosopher Michael Sandel’s “moral limits of markets” and new concepts such as the wellbeing economy.
There are lots of other ways to scale deep, but the critical move remains the same: there must be space to explore underlying values, structures of power and the psychological depth evident in the human system. One stakeholder summed it up by saying:
Our conversations highlighted the need to allocate more resources to support children and families. If we can bring “the marginalized back from the margins”, where they are prey to exploitation and violence, we can fight social ills like childhood sexual violence.
Profit is also a powerful driver of practices that prevent societal healing, such as the exploitation of vulnerable children or the pornography industry. Scaling deep could also mean exploring how the economy facilitates harm, investigating philosopher Michael Sandel’s “moral limits of markets” and new concepts such as the wellbeing economy.
There are lots of other ways to scale deep, but the critical move remains the same: there must be space to explore underlying values, structures of power and the psychological depth evident in the human system. One stakeholder summed it up by saying:
Our conversations highlighted the need to allocate more resources to support children and families. If we can bring “the marginalized back from the margins”, where they are prey to exploitation and violence, we can fight social ills like childhood sexual violence.
Profit is also a powerful driver of practices that prevent societal healing, such as the exploitation of vulnerable children or the pornography industry. Scaling deep could also mean exploring how the economy facilitates harm, investigating philosopher Michael Sandel’s “moral limits of markets” and new concepts such as the wellbeing economy.
There are lots of other ways to scale deep, but the critical move remains the same: there must be space to explore underlying values, structures of power and the psychological depth evident in the human system. One stakeholder summed it up by saying:
“This is human work. It starts small and takes time. This is not a quick win, bang for the buck investment opportunity.”
“This is human work. It starts small and takes time. This is not a quick win, bang for the buck investment opportunity.”
“This is human work. It starts small and takes time. This is not a quick win, bang for the buck investment opportunity.”
“This is human work. It starts small and takes time. This is not a quick win, bang for the buck investment opportunity.”
This is the deeper work.
This is the deeper work.
This is the deeper work.
This is the deeper work.
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential.
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential.
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential.
From our first conversations, it became clear that our collective power holds tremendous potential.
Our Action Accelerators
We also found in our engagement with the field a strong desire for a coherent set of priority actions to align behind, actions that we know will make a difference, that will help advance the six critical themes we have identified and that, if pursued together at pace, will significantly change the landscape in the immediate future.
On their own, each accelerator is an example of something that can deliver transformative change over the next five years, with clear opportunities for action and organizations and people in place to facilitate it. Others are already working in this way, or may be inspired by these action accelerators to devise their own. Together, we believe they can help us realize our ultimate goal of a world free from childhood sexual violence.
Our Action Accelerators
We also found in our engagement with the field a strong desire for a coherent set of priority actions to align behind, actions that we know will make a difference, that will help advance the six critical themes we have identified and that, if pursued together at pace, will significantly change the landscape in the immediate future.
On their own, each accelerator is an example of something that can deliver transformative change over the next five years, with clear opportunities for action and organizations and people in place to facilitate it. Others are already working in this way, or may be inspired by these action accelerators to devise their own. Together, we believe they can help us realize our ultimate goal of a world free from childhood sexual violence.
Our Action Accelerators
We also found in our engagement with the field a strong desire for a coherent set of priority actions to align behind, actions that we know will make a difference, that will help advance the six critical themes we have identified and that, if pursued together at pace, will significantly change the landscape in the immediate future.
On their own, each accelerator is an example of something that can deliver transformative change over the next five years, with clear opportunities for action and organizations and people in place to facilitate it. Others are already working in this way, or may be inspired by these action accelerators to devise their own. Together, we believe they can help us realize our ultimate goal of a world free from childhood sexual violence.
Our Action Accelerators
We also found in our engagement with the field a strong desire for a coherent set of priority actions to align behind, actions that we know will make a difference, that will help advance the six critical themes we have identified and that, if pursued together at pace, will significantly change the landscape in the immediate future.
On their own, each accelerator is an example of something that can deliver transformative change over the next five years, with clear opportunities for action and organizations and people in place to facilitate it. Others are already working in this way, or may be inspired by these action accelerators to devise their own. Together, we believe they can help us realize our ultimate goal of a world free from childhood sexual violence.
1. Transform the narratives around childhood sexual violence by ending the culture of silence and centering prevention
The challenge
Changing the narratives that define CSV is complex. Narratives reflect the way we interpret the world and how it works. Shifting them can lead to difficult conversations about meaning, what is important and what must change.
To succeed in changing narratives, it’s essential to create hope-driven, action-oriented stories that center lived experiences and feel personal and compelling. They must be repeated often and adapted to new contexts, helping to reframe CSV for decision makers and change the core values of cultures and institutions.
Broadly, stakeholders agree changing the narratives is a top priority for CSV prevention. Current narratives perpetuate the silence, stigma, and shame that survivors bear rather than their abusers. They also breed misinformation around the scale and universal nature of the problem and fuel fatalism about its preventability.
The challenge
Changing the narratives that define CSV is complex. Narratives reflect the way we interpret the world and how it works. Shifting them can lead to difficult conversations about meaning, what is important and what must change.
To succeed in changing narratives, it’s essential to create hope-driven, action-oriented stories that center lived experiences and feel personal and compelling. They must be repeated often and adapted to new contexts, helping to reframe CSV for decision makers and change the core values of cultures and institutions.
Broadly, stakeholders agree changing the narratives is a top priority for CSV prevention. Current narratives perpetuate the silence, stigma, and shame that survivors bear rather than their abusers. They also breed misinformation around the scale and universal nature of the problem and fuel fatalism about its preventability.
The challenge
Changing the narratives that define CSV is complex. Narratives reflect the way we interpret the world and how it works. Shifting them can lead to difficult conversations about meaning, what is important and what must change.
To succeed in changing narratives, it’s essential to create hope-driven, action-oriented stories that center lived experiences and feel personal and compelling. They must be repeated often and adapted to new contexts, helping to reframe CSV for decision makers and change the core values of cultures and institutions.
Broadly, stakeholders agree changing the narratives is a top priority for CSV prevention. Current narratives perpetuate the silence, stigma, and shame that survivors bear rather than their abusers. They also breed misinformation around the scale and universal nature of the problem and fuel fatalism about its preventability.
The challenge
Changing the narratives that define CSV is complex. Narratives reflect the way we interpret the world and how it works. Shifting them can lead to difficult conversations about meaning, what is important and what must change.
To succeed in changing narratives, it’s essential to create hope-driven, action-oriented stories that center lived experiences and feel personal and compelling. They must be repeated often and adapted to new contexts, helping to reframe CSV for decision makers and change the core values of cultures and institutions.
Broadly, stakeholders agree changing the narratives is a top priority for CSV prevention. Current narratives perpetuate the silence, stigma, and shame that survivors bear rather than their abusers. They also breed misinformation around the scale and universal nature of the problem and fuel fatalism about its preventability.
Where we can make a difference
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence – including bringing more attention to incest and abuse in the home. CSV is considered a private and highly stigmatized topic, often avoided even in the confines of families and intimate relationships. Normalizing conversations around CSV would encourage collective responsibility, reduce the stigma and shame that prevents survivors disclosing abuse, and make CSV a social issue that policy makers are less likely to ignore. This process will look and feel different across settings, but the underlying goal will remain the same.
The new narratives around CSV will shift and evolve as it is embraced in different contexts and by different messengers. Advocates will need to start where people are, remaining flexible in how they start conversations without compromising on principles. They will also need to find the right messengers, i.e. context-specific, credible messengers who grasp and embrace the vision to enhance the new narratives’ integrity.
Transforming the narratives around CSV will support prevention, healing and justice in multiple ways:
increase awareness of CSV and the evidence-based solutions that could end it;
help shift the stigma and blame from survivors to the systems and institutions that facilitate their abuse;
increase the number of children willing to disclose their abuse;
heighten parents’ and caregivers’ awareness of risk and services to prevent and respond to harm;
open dialogue on CSV in policy arenas; and
challenge the impunity for people and institutions that expose children to risks and abuse.
Prioritizing prevention would put more pressure on every person who engages with children to mitigate risks. Encouraging more sex education and conversations with young people about sexual health might also find its place in such a narrative. Finally, promoting more unified, informed, and consistent narratives of hope and progress around CSV would help the public rally behind our field and demand change.
Where we can make a difference
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence – including bringing more attention to incest and abuse in the home. CSV is considered a private and highly stigmatized topic, often avoided even in the confines of families and intimate relationships. Normalizing conversations around CSV would encourage collective responsibility, reduce the stigma and shame that prevents survivors disclosing abuse, and make CSV a social issue that policy makers are less likely to ignore. This process will look and feel different across settings, but the underlying goal will remain the same.
The new narratives around CSV will shift and evolve as it is embraced in different contexts and by different messengers. Advocates will need to start where people are, remaining flexible in how they start conversations without compromising on principles. They will also need to find the right messengers, i.e. context-specific, credible messengers who grasp and embrace the vision to enhance the new narratives’ integrity.
Transforming the narratives around CSV will support prevention, healing and justice in multiple ways:
increase awareness of CSV and the evidence-based solutions that could end it;
help shift the stigma and blame from survivors to the systems and institutions that facilitate their abuse;
increase the number of children willing to disclose their abuse;
heighten parents’ and caregivers’ awareness of risk and services to prevent and respond to harm;
open dialogue on CSV in policy arenas; and
challenge the impunity for people and institutions that expose children to risks and abuse.
Prioritizing prevention would put more pressure on every person who engages with children to mitigate risks. Encouraging more sex education and conversations with young people about sexual health might also find its place in such a narrative. Finally, promoting more unified, informed, and consistent narratives of hope and progress around CSV would help the public rally behind our field and demand change.
Where we can make a difference
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence – including bringing more attention to incest and abuse in the home. CSV is considered a private and highly stigmatized topic, often avoided even in the confines of families and intimate relationships. Normalizing conversations around CSV would encourage collective responsibility, reduce the stigma and shame that prevents survivors disclosing abuse, and make CSV a social issue that policy makers are less likely to ignore. This process will look and feel different across settings, but the underlying goal will remain the same.
The new narratives around CSV will shift and evolve as it is embraced in different contexts and by different messengers. Advocates will need to start where people are, remaining flexible in how they start conversations without compromising on principles. They will also need to find the right messengers, i.e. context-specific, credible messengers who grasp and embrace the vision to enhance the new narratives’ integrity.
Transforming the narratives around CSV will support prevention, healing and justice in multiple ways:
increase awareness of CSV and the evidence-based solutions that could end it;
help shift the stigma and blame from survivors to the systems and institutions that facilitate their abuse;
increase the number of children willing to disclose their abuse;
heighten parents’ and caregivers’ awareness of risk and services to prevent and respond to harm;
open dialogue on CSV in policy arenas; and
challenge the impunity for people and institutions that expose children to risks and abuse.
Prioritizing prevention would put more pressure on every person who engages with children to mitigate risks. Encouraging more sex education and conversations with young people about sexual health might also find its place in such a narrative. Finally, promoting more unified, informed, and consistent narratives of hope and progress around CSV would help the public rally behind our field and demand change.
Where we can make a difference
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence – including bringing more attention to incest and abuse in the home. CSV is considered a private and highly stigmatized topic, often avoided even in the confines of families and intimate relationships. Normalizing conversations around CSV would encourage collective responsibility, reduce the stigma and shame that prevents survivors disclosing abuse, and make CSV a social issue that policy makers are less likely to ignore. This process will look and feel different across settings, but the underlying goal will remain the same.
The new narratives around CSV will shift and evolve as it is embraced in different contexts and by different messengers. Advocates will need to start where people are, remaining flexible in how they start conversations without compromising on principles. They will also need to find the right messengers, i.e. context-specific, credible messengers who grasp and embrace the vision to enhance the new narratives’ integrity.
Transforming the narratives around CSV will support prevention, healing and justice in multiple ways:
increase awareness of CSV and the evidence-based solutions that could end it;
help shift the stigma and blame from survivors to the systems and institutions that facilitate their abuse;
increase the number of children willing to disclose their abuse;
heighten parents’ and caregivers’ awareness of risk and services to prevent and respond to harm;
open dialogue on CSV in policy arenas; and
challenge the impunity for people and institutions that expose children to risks and abuse.
Prioritizing prevention would put more pressure on every person who engages with children to mitigate risks. Encouraging more sex education and conversations with young people about sexual health might also find its place in such a narrative. Finally, promoting more unified, informed, and consistent narratives of hope and progress around CSV would help the public rally behind our field and demand change.
Opportunities
There is momentum to transform the narratives around CSV.
Existing programs, including school-based prevention programs, to normalize conversations around CSV are ready to scale. These programs are creating broad-based conversations around CSV, involving parents, neighbors and policy makers, among other groups.
Some governments are also taking positive action to normalize conversations around CSV.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are taking action to strengthen their messaging around CSV, including partnering with messaging-focused and social change groups, and those working on narrative change in adjacent fields.
Media (social, digital and print) can be used to amplify messages, repeat, and adapt stories for new contexts, and reach millions more people.
Survivor advocates are willing to engage in more open dialogue and advocacy. This makes CSV personal and ensures we lead with the lived experience of survivors and their families.
Emerging movements are reinforcing messages of open dialogue and prevention. They are supporting their members to tell new stories with conviction and confidence.
Opportunities
There is momentum to transform the narratives around CSV.
Existing programs, including school-based prevention programs, to normalize conversations around CSV are ready to scale. These programs are creating broad-based conversations around CSV, involving parents, neighbors and policy makers, among other groups.
Some governments are also taking positive action to normalize conversations around CSV.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are taking action to strengthen their messaging around CSV, including partnering with messaging-focused and social change groups, and those working on narrative change in adjacent fields.
Media (social, digital and print) can be used to amplify messages, repeat, and adapt stories for new contexts, and reach millions more people.
Survivor advocates are willing to engage in more open dialogue and advocacy. This makes CSV personal and ensures we lead with the lived experience of survivors and their families.
Emerging movements are reinforcing messages of open dialogue and prevention. They are supporting their members to tell new stories with conviction and confidence.
Opportunities
There is momentum to transform the narratives around CSV.
Existing programs, including school-based prevention programs, to normalize conversations around CSV are ready to scale. These programs are creating broad-based conversations around CSV, involving parents, neighbors and policy makers, among other groups.
Some governments are also taking positive action to normalize conversations around CSV.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are taking action to strengthen their messaging around CSV, including partnering with messaging-focused and social change groups, and those working on narrative change in adjacent fields.
Media (social, digital and print) can be used to amplify messages, repeat, and adapt stories for new contexts, and reach millions more people.
Survivor advocates are willing to engage in more open dialogue and advocacy. This makes CSV personal and ensures we lead with the lived experience of survivors and their families.
Emerging movements are reinforcing messages of open dialogue and prevention. They are supporting their members to tell new stories with conviction and confidence.
Opportunities
There is momentum to transform the narratives around CSV.
Existing programs, including school-based prevention programs, to normalize conversations around CSV are ready to scale. These programs are creating broad-based conversations around CSV, involving parents, neighbors and policy makers, among other groups.
Some governments are also taking positive action to normalize conversations around CSV.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are taking action to strengthen their messaging around CSV, including partnering with messaging-focused and social change groups, and those working on narrative change in adjacent fields.
Media (social, digital and print) can be used to amplify messages, repeat, and adapt stories for new contexts, and reach millions more people.
Survivor advocates are willing to engage in more open dialogue and advocacy. This makes CSV personal and ensures we lead with the lived experience of survivors and their families.
Emerging movements are reinforcing messages of open dialogue and prevention. They are supporting their members to tell new stories with conviction and confidence.
Real world example
Arpan in India has run the Child Safety Week campaign for the past five years to create awareness about childhood sexual abuse. It enlists influencers or celebrities to talk about the issue and to address the cultural norms at the root of the issue. Constant repetition through the media, advocacy, and mass campaigns is slowly shifting the public mindset about preventing CSV.
Real world example
Arpan in India has run the Child Safety Week campaign for the past five years to create awareness about childhood sexual abuse. It enlists influencers or celebrities to talk about the issue and to address the cultural norms at the root of the issue. Constant repetition through the media, advocacy, and mass campaigns is slowly shifting the public mindset about preventing CSV.
Real world example
Arpan in India has run the Child Safety Week campaign for the past five years to create awareness about childhood sexual abuse. It enlists influencers or celebrities to talk about the issue and to address the cultural norms at the root of the issue. Constant repetition through the media, advocacy, and mass campaigns is slowly shifting the public mindset about preventing CSV.
Real world example
Arpan in India has run the Child Safety Week campaign for the past five years to create awareness about childhood sexual abuse. It enlists influencers or celebrities to talk about the issue and to address the cultural norms at the root of the issue. Constant repetition through the media, advocacy, and mass campaigns is slowly shifting the public mindset about preventing CSV.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the narratives around CSV.
Promote narratives that normalize conversations around CSV, amplifying evidence-based solutions and above all generating hope.
Ensure these narratives link policy with action.
Strengthen the capacity of advocates to share new narratives, with support for global and national coalitions that advocate for cross-sectoral action and policy change.
Design broad-based public campaigns to promote the new narratives, shifting the blame and breaking the silence around CSV.
Support CSOs – individually and as coalitions – to track and counter messages that work against the new narratives of hope and prevention, with tools and mechanisms developed to facilitate this process.
Shift the stigma of CSV from survivors to the individuals, institutions and systems that facilitate their abuse, so survivors of all ages feel believed, respected and celebrated for their courage and resilience rather than stigmatized.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the narratives around CSV.
Promote narratives that normalize conversations around CSV, amplifying evidence-based solutions and above all generating hope.
Ensure these narratives link policy with action.
Strengthen the capacity of advocates to share new narratives, with support for global and national coalitions that advocate for cross-sectoral action and policy change.
Design broad-based public campaigns to promote the new narratives, shifting the blame and breaking the silence around CSV.
Support CSOs – individually and as coalitions – to track and counter messages that work against the new narratives of hope and prevention, with tools and mechanisms developed to facilitate this process.
Shift the stigma of CSV from survivors to the individuals, institutions and systems that facilitate their abuse, so survivors of all ages feel believed, respected and celebrated for their courage and resilience rather than stigmatized.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the narratives around CSV.
Promote narratives that normalize conversations around CSV, amplifying evidence-based solutions and above all generating hope.
Ensure these narratives link policy with action.
Strengthen the capacity of advocates to share new narratives, with support for global and national coalitions that advocate for cross-sectoral action and policy change.
Design broad-based public campaigns to promote the new narratives, shifting the blame and breaking the silence around CSV.
Support CSOs – individually and as coalitions – to track and counter messages that work against the new narratives of hope and prevention, with tools and mechanisms developed to facilitate this process.
Shift the stigma of CSV from survivors to the individuals, institutions and systems that facilitate their abuse, so survivors of all ages feel believed, respected and celebrated for their courage and resilience rather than stigmatized.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the narratives around CSV.
Promote narratives that normalize conversations around CSV, amplifying evidence-based solutions and above all generating hope.
Ensure these narratives link policy with action.
Strengthen the capacity of advocates to share new narratives, with support for global and national coalitions that advocate for cross-sectoral action and policy change.
Design broad-based public campaigns to promote the new narratives, shifting the blame and breaking the silence around CSV.
Support CSOs – individually and as coalitions – to track and counter messages that work against the new narratives of hope and prevention, with tools and mechanisms developed to facilitate this process.
Shift the stigma of CSV from survivors to the individuals, institutions and systems that facilitate their abuse, so survivors of all ages feel believed, respected and celebrated for their courage and resilience rather than stigmatized.
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence
We must normalize conversations around CSV – a topic currently hidden by a global culture of silence
2. Galvanize political activism, centering survivors, parents/caregivers, and young people
The challenge
Over the last few years, it’s become even clearer that CSV is both a political and technical challenge. To support the funding and implementation of evidence-based technical solutions, we need to see strong and sustained political activism. It must be powerful and compelling enough to influence decisions, galvanize public support, and achieve real social change.
The most effective political activism has both specific goals (i.e. what should be achieved) and targets (i.e. where it should be achieved). It seeks to engage centers of power (e.g. governments), asking for specific action within limited periods of time. Activism also involves a combination of targeted advocacy and campaigns, often issue-specific and time-limited, with broader, longer-term movements, allowing multiple advocacy and campaign efforts to achieve ambitious goals.
We have seen that the most powerful global efforts to reduce CSV target political groups or bodies that include large numbers of countries, or those considered to have significant global influence, like the G7, UN High Level Panels, Civil 20 (C20) group or the 1st Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
At present, stakeholders working on CSV struggle to make sufficient political impact. Comparisons are sometimes made between our sector, which tends to rely on technical arguments, and groups in other sectors which take bold and high-visibility political actions to trigger change.
The challenge
Over the last few years, it’s become even clearer that CSV is both a political and technical challenge. To support the funding and implementation of evidence-based technical solutions, we need to see strong and sustained political activism. It must be powerful and compelling enough to influence decisions, galvanize public support, and achieve real social change.
The most effective political activism has both specific goals (i.e. what should be achieved) and targets (i.e. where it should be achieved). It seeks to engage centers of power (e.g. governments), asking for specific action within limited periods of time. Activism also involves a combination of targeted advocacy and campaigns, often issue-specific and time-limited, with broader, longer-term movements, allowing multiple advocacy and campaign efforts to achieve ambitious goals.
We have seen that the most powerful global efforts to reduce CSV target political groups or bodies that include large numbers of countries, or those considered to have significant global influence, like the G7, UN High Level Panels, Civil 20 (C20) group or the 1st Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
At present, stakeholders working on CSV struggle to make sufficient political impact. Comparisons are sometimes made between our sector, which tends to rely on technical arguments, and groups in other sectors which take bold and high-visibility political actions to trigger change.
The challenge
Over the last few years, it’s become even clearer that CSV is both a political and technical challenge. To support the funding and implementation of evidence-based technical solutions, we need to see strong and sustained political activism. It must be powerful and compelling enough to influence decisions, galvanize public support, and achieve real social change.
The most effective political activism has both specific goals (i.e. what should be achieved) and targets (i.e. where it should be achieved). It seeks to engage centers of power (e.g. governments), asking for specific action within limited periods of time. Activism also involves a combination of targeted advocacy and campaigns, often issue-specific and time-limited, with broader, longer-term movements, allowing multiple advocacy and campaign efforts to achieve ambitious goals.
We have seen that the most powerful global efforts to reduce CSV target political groups or bodies that include large numbers of countries, or those considered to have significant global influence, like the G7, UN High Level Panels, Civil 20 (C20) group or the 1st Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
At present, stakeholders working on CSV struggle to make sufficient political impact. Comparisons are sometimes made between our sector, which tends to rely on technical arguments, and groups in other sectors which take bold and high-visibility political actions to trigger change.
The challenge
Over the last few years, it’s become even clearer that CSV is both a political and technical challenge. To support the funding and implementation of evidence-based technical solutions, we need to see strong and sustained political activism. It must be powerful and compelling enough to influence decisions, galvanize public support, and achieve real social change.
The most effective political activism has both specific goals (i.e. what should be achieved) and targets (i.e. where it should be achieved). It seeks to engage centers of power (e.g. governments), asking for specific action within limited periods of time. Activism also involves a combination of targeted advocacy and campaigns, often issue-specific and time-limited, with broader, longer-term movements, allowing multiple advocacy and campaign efforts to achieve ambitious goals.
We have seen that the most powerful global efforts to reduce CSV target political groups or bodies that include large numbers of countries, or those considered to have significant global influence, like the G7, UN High Level Panels, Civil 20 (C20) group or the 1st Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
At present, stakeholders working on CSV struggle to make sufficient political impact. Comparisons are sometimes made between our sector, which tends to rely on technical arguments, and groups in other sectors which take bold and high-visibility political actions to trigger change.
Where we can make a difference
Stronger, more targeted activism is gaining traction. New approaches are being embraced by many stakeholders, including survivor-led groups, parents, caregivers, and young people.
shape child- and survivor-centered justice systems;
eliminate statutes of limitation;
hold powerful institutions to account; and
promote safe digital spaces for children and adolescents.
promote safe schools
There is a realization that oppositional forces, like some players in the technology and pornography industries, have formidable advocacy power. They also tend to have significant resources, skilled lobbyists, and established roads into political networks.
Political activism can accelerate prevention and response efforts by motivating decision makers to support effective interventions. It amplifies the voice and agency of survivor advocates, parents, caregivers and young people, highlighting their strength as activists and innovators. Activism also personalizes the issue, making it difficult for policymakers and the public to ignore.
Where we can make a difference
Stronger, more targeted activism is gaining traction. New approaches are being embraced by many stakeholders, including survivor-led groups, parents, caregivers, and young people.
shape child- and survivor-centered justice systems;
eliminate statutes of limitation;
hold powerful institutions to account; and
promote safe digital spaces for children and adolescents.
promote safe schools
There is a realization that oppositional forces, like some players in the technology and pornography industries, have formidable advocacy power. They also tend to have significant resources, skilled lobbyists, and established roads into political networks.
Political activism can accelerate prevention and response efforts by motivating decision makers to support effective interventions. It amplifies the voice and agency of survivor advocates, parents, caregivers and young people, highlighting their strength as activists and innovators. Activism also personalizes the issue, making it difficult for policymakers and the public to ignore.
Where we can make a difference
Stronger, more targeted activism is gaining traction. New approaches are being embraced by many stakeholders, including survivor-led groups, parents, caregivers, and young people.
shape child- and survivor-centered justice systems;
eliminate statutes of limitation;
hold powerful institutions to account; and
promote safe digital spaces for children and adolescents.
promote safe schools
There is a realization that oppositional forces, like some players in the technology and pornography industries, have formidable advocacy power. They also tend to have significant resources, skilled lobbyists, and established roads into political networks.
Political activism can accelerate prevention and response efforts by motivating decision makers to support effective interventions. It amplifies the voice and agency of survivor advocates, parents, caregivers and young people, highlighting their strength as activists and innovators. Activism also personalizes the issue, making it difficult for policymakers and the public to ignore.
Where we can make a difference
Stronger, more targeted activism is gaining traction. New approaches are being embraced by many stakeholders, including survivor-led groups, parents, caregivers, and young people.
shape child- and survivor-centered justice systems;
eliminate statutes of limitation;
hold powerful institutions to account; and
promote safe digital spaces for children and adolescents.
promote safe schools
There is a realization that oppositional forces, like some players in the technology and pornography industries, have formidable advocacy power. They also tend to have significant resources, skilled lobbyists, and established roads into political networks.
Political activism can accelerate prevention and response efforts by motivating decision makers to support effective interventions. It amplifies the voice and agency of survivor advocates, parents, caregivers and young people, highlighting their strength as activists and innovators. Activism also personalizes the issue, making it difficult for policymakers and the public to ignore.
“Parents are the ones who have the highest stakes in this, and we're not talking to them enough, and we're not empowering them enough to be the leaders and the changemakers in this work. If we have them be the ones who put the pressure on policymakers, governments and schools, they are a force to be reckoned with.” - Rosalia Rivera, CONSENTparenting
“Parents are the ones who have the highest stakes in this, and we're not talking to them enough, and we're not empowering them enough to be the leaders and the changemakers in this work. If we have them be the ones who put the pressure on policymakers, governments and schools, they are a force to be reckoned with.” - Rosalia Rivera, CONSENTparenting
“Parents are the ones who have the highest stakes in this, and we're not talking to them enough, and we're not empowering them enough to be the leaders and the changemakers in this work. If we have them be the ones who put the pressure on policymakers, governments and schools, they are a force to be reckoned with.” - Rosalia Rivera, CONSENTparenting
“Parents are the ones who have the highest stakes in this, and we're not talking to them enough, and we're not empowering them enough to be the leaders and the changemakers in this work. If we have them be the ones who put the pressure on policymakers, governments and schools, they are a force to be reckoned with.” - Rosalia Rivera, CONSENTparenting
Opportunities
There are many signs that political activism related to CSV is growing stronger.
Funders are beginning to recognize that progress on technical solutions requires political action.
High profile wins offer valuable lessons and motivation for key groups to continue and fuels campaigns.
More survivor advocates and leaders are emerging, particularly in LMICs. They are growing local and national organizations to influence governments, roll-out prevention programs in institutional settings such as schools and build nationwide coalitions.
Parents’ and caregivers’ organizations are adopting more strategic advocacy goals and positioning themselves as drivers of change.
Young people are pushing back against institutions and industries that devalue children and adolescents and fail to protect them.
Robust research – Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence – published by Safe Futures Hub that provides evidence-based strategies to help make CSV a national political priority.
Opportunities
There are many signs that political activism related to CSV is growing stronger.
Funders are beginning to recognize that progress on technical solutions requires political action.
High profile wins offer valuable lessons and motivation for key groups to continue and fuels campaigns.
More survivor advocates and leaders are emerging, particularly in LMICs. They are growing local and national organizations to influence governments, roll-out prevention programs in institutional settings such as schools and build nationwide coalitions.
Parents’ and caregivers’ organizations are adopting more strategic advocacy goals and positioning themselves as drivers of change.
Young people are pushing back against institutions and industries that devalue children and adolescents and fail to protect them.
Robust research – Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence – published by Safe Futures Hub that provides evidence-based strategies to help make CSV a national political priority.
Opportunities
There are many signs that political activism related to CSV is growing stronger.
Funders are beginning to recognize that progress on technical solutions requires political action.
High profile wins offer valuable lessons and motivation for key groups to continue and fuels campaigns.
More survivor advocates and leaders are emerging, particularly in LMICs. They are growing local and national organizations to influence governments, roll-out prevention programs in institutional settings such as schools and build nationwide coalitions.
Parents’ and caregivers’ organizations are adopting more strategic advocacy goals and positioning themselves as drivers of change.
Young people are pushing back against institutions and industries that devalue children and adolescents and fail to protect them.
Robust research – Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence – published by Safe Futures Hub that provides evidence-based strategies to help make CSV a national political priority.
Opportunities
There are many signs that political activism related to CSV is growing stronger.
Funders are beginning to recognize that progress on technical solutions requires political action.
High profile wins offer valuable lessons and motivation for key groups to continue and fuels campaigns.
More survivor advocates and leaders are emerging, particularly in LMICs. They are growing local and national organizations to influence governments, roll-out prevention programs in institutional settings such as schools and build nationwide coalitions.
Parents’ and caregivers’ organizations are adopting more strategic advocacy goals and positioning themselves as drivers of change.
Young people are pushing back against institutions and industries that devalue children and adolescents and fail to protect them.
Robust research – Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence – published by Safe Futures Hub that provides evidence-based strategies to help make CSV a national political priority.
Real world example
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) supports survivors to share their stories as a political statement. The organization believes that survivors are the most impactful faces of the movement and that their leadership needs to be supported. Being visible and ensuring that their voices and their stories are heard helped them galvanize political will. On the eve of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, more than 35 of ECA’s survivors of clergy sexual abuse and activists from 24 countries led the March to Zero to demand zero-tolerance becomes a universal law of the Catholic Church.
Real world example
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) supports survivors to share their stories as a political statement. The organization believes that survivors are the most impactful faces of the movement and that their leadership needs to be supported. Being visible and ensuring that their voices and their stories are heard helped them galvanize political will. On the eve of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, more than 35 of ECA’s survivors of clergy sexual abuse and activists from 24 countries led the March to Zero to demand zero-tolerance becomes a universal law of the Catholic Church.
Real world example
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) supports survivors to share their stories as a political statement. The organization believes that survivors are the most impactful faces of the movement and that their leadership needs to be supported. Being visible and ensuring that their voices and their stories are heard helped them galvanize political will. On the eve of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, more than 35 of ECA’s survivors of clergy sexual abuse and activists from 24 countries led the March to Zero to demand zero-tolerance becomes a universal law of the Catholic Church.
Real world example
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) supports survivors to share their stories as a political statement. The organization believes that survivors are the most impactful faces of the movement and that their leadership needs to be supported. Being visible and ensuring that their voices and their stories are heard helped them galvanize political will. On the eve of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, more than 35 of ECA’s survivors of clergy sexual abuse and activists from 24 countries led the March to Zero to demand zero-tolerance becomes a universal law of the Catholic Church.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us evolve our sector’s approach to political activism.
Make political activism – with clear goals and targets for government engagement – an integral part of CSV prevention efforts and better supported by stronger field infrastructure.
Grow existing movements as an accepted way of driving change.
Encourage more donors to take risks, supporting resilience and leadership by funding political activism. This should include support to survivor-led or focused groups, promising individual leaders, small groups at national and local levels, bold, ambitious campaigns, and accountability mechanisms like watchdog groups.
Promote confident and well-connected political activists working closely with advocates, researchers and practitioners, presenting technical and policy solutions to drive change.
Encourage broad, cross-sector coalitions to work in tandem to achieve common goals related to CSV.
Connect with adjacent social justice movements to help grow CSV prevention efforts exponentially, leveraging their hard-earned experience and gains.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us evolve our sector’s approach to political activism.
Make political activism – with clear goals and targets for government engagement – an integral part of CSV prevention efforts and better supported by stronger field infrastructure.
Grow existing movements as an accepted way of driving change.
Encourage more donors to take risks, supporting resilience and leadership by funding political activism. This should include support to survivor-led or focused groups, promising individual leaders, small groups at national and local levels, bold, ambitious campaigns, and accountability mechanisms like watchdog groups.
Promote confident and well-connected political activists working closely with advocates, researchers and practitioners, presenting technical and policy solutions to drive change.
Encourage broad, cross-sector coalitions to work in tandem to achieve common goals related to CSV.
Connect with adjacent social justice movements to help grow CSV prevention efforts exponentially, leveraging their hard-earned experience and gains.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us evolve our sector’s approach to political activism.
Make political activism – with clear goals and targets for government engagement – an integral part of CSV prevention efforts and better supported by stronger field infrastructure.
Grow existing movements as an accepted way of driving change.
Encourage more donors to take risks, supporting resilience and leadership by funding political activism. This should include support to survivor-led or focused groups, promising individual leaders, small groups at national and local levels, bold, ambitious campaigns, and accountability mechanisms like watchdog groups.
Promote confident and well-connected political activists working closely with advocates, researchers and practitioners, presenting technical and policy solutions to drive change.
Encourage broad, cross-sector coalitions to work in tandem to achieve common goals related to CSV.
Connect with adjacent social justice movements to help grow CSV prevention efforts exponentially, leveraging their hard-earned experience and gains.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us evolve our sector’s approach to political activism.
Make political activism – with clear goals and targets for government engagement – an integral part of CSV prevention efforts and better supported by stronger field infrastructure.
Grow existing movements as an accepted way of driving change.
Encourage more donors to take risks, supporting resilience and leadership by funding political activism. This should include support to survivor-led or focused groups, promising individual leaders, small groups at national and local levels, bold, ambitious campaigns, and accountability mechanisms like watchdog groups.
Promote confident and well-connected political activists working closely with advocates, researchers and practitioners, presenting technical and policy solutions to drive change.
Encourage broad, cross-sector coalitions to work in tandem to achieve common goals related to CSV.
Connect with adjacent social justice movements to help grow CSV prevention efforts exponentially, leveraging their hard-earned experience and gains.
To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
To drive change, the request and the timing must be clear and considered and the consequences of inaction tangible.
3. Pressure and incentivize institutions to protect children, mitigate harm, and promote prevention, healing and justice
The challenge
Children spend considerable amounts of time in public and private institutional spaces. Most have their lives shaped in some way by schools, day care facilities, faith-based groups, sports teams and associations or youth-serving organizations, like those focused on civic engagement, mentoring, or recreation. That’s why it’s essential to have safeguarding policies, reinforced by appropriate attitudes and behaviors, to ensure child safety and wellbeing.
Institutions can increase risks of abuse, particularly for children who live outside family care or are in the custody of the state. Children can also be at risk when rewards (such as better grades or a place on a competitive sports team) are offered in exchange for abuse. In the absence of CSV prevention policies and practices, patterns of excessive control and abusive behavior can emerge and run unchecked in institutions including institutional settings where children spend a large amount of time, such as schools.
Broadly, people recognize how important it is to make institutions safe spaces for children. But progress is slow and erratic. Continuing reports of sexual violence against children in institutional settings suggests a problem that extends beyond individual bad actors. They indicate there are far too many systems that devalue (and discredit) children, tolerate and cover up unacceptable criminal behavior, and place profit and reputation over safety – not least in the workplace.
The challenge
Children spend considerable amounts of time in public and private institutional spaces. Most have their lives shaped in some way by schools, day care facilities, faith-based groups, sports teams and associations or youth-serving organizations, like those focused on civic engagement, mentoring, or recreation. That’s why it’s essential to have safeguarding policies, reinforced by appropriate attitudes and behaviors, to ensure child safety and wellbeing.
Institutions can increase risks of abuse, particularly for children who live outside family care or are in the custody of the state. Children can also be at risk when rewards (such as better grades or a place on a competitive sports team) are offered in exchange for abuse. In the absence of CSV prevention policies and practices, patterns of excessive control and abusive behavior can emerge and run unchecked in institutions including institutional settings where children spend a large amount of time, such as schools.
Broadly, people recognize how important it is to make institutions safe spaces for children. But progress is slow and erratic. Continuing reports of sexual violence against children in institutional settings suggests a problem that extends beyond individual bad actors. They indicate there are far too many systems that devalue (and discredit) children, tolerate and cover up unacceptable criminal behavior, and place profit and reputation over safety – not least in the workplace.
The challenge
Children spend considerable amounts of time in public and private institutional spaces. Most have their lives shaped in some way by schools, day care facilities, faith-based groups, sports teams and associations or youth-serving organizations, like those focused on civic engagement, mentoring, or recreation. That’s why it’s essential to have safeguarding policies, reinforced by appropriate attitudes and behaviors, to ensure child safety and wellbeing.
Institutions can increase risks of abuse, particularly for children who live outside family care or are in the custody of the state. Children can also be at risk when rewards (such as better grades or a place on a competitive sports team) are offered in exchange for abuse. In the absence of CSV prevention policies and practices, patterns of excessive control and abusive behavior can emerge and run unchecked in institutions including institutional settings where children spend a large amount of time, such as schools.
Broadly, people recognize how important it is to make institutions safe spaces for children. But progress is slow and erratic. Continuing reports of sexual violence against children in institutional settings suggests a problem that extends beyond individual bad actors. They indicate there are far too many systems that devalue (and discredit) children, tolerate and cover up unacceptable criminal behavior, and place profit and reputation over safety – not least in the workplace.
The challenge
Children spend considerable amounts of time in public and private institutional spaces. Most have their lives shaped in some way by schools, day care facilities, faith-based groups, sports teams and associations or youth-serving organizations, like those focused on civic engagement, mentoring, or recreation. That’s why it’s essential to have safeguarding policies, reinforced by appropriate attitudes and behaviors, to ensure child safety and wellbeing.
Institutions can increase risks of abuse, particularly for children who live outside family care or are in the custody of the state. Children can also be at risk when rewards (such as better grades or a place on a competitive sports team) are offered in exchange for abuse. In the absence of CSV prevention policies and practices, patterns of excessive control and abusive behavior can emerge and run unchecked in institutions including institutional settings where children spend a large amount of time, such as schools.
Broadly, people recognize how important it is to make institutions safe spaces for children. But progress is slow and erratic. Continuing reports of sexual violence against children in institutional settings suggests a problem that extends beyond individual bad actors. They indicate there are far too many systems that devalue (and discredit) children, tolerate and cover up unacceptable criminal behavior, and place profit and reputation over safety – not least in the workplace.
Where we can make a difference
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them. This progress could be greatly accelerated over the next five years with the right actions.
the decision-making structures of many institutions are centralized. Once the right person or office is convinced, the entire institution can change.
reputation and financial viability are major concerns for most institutions. Threatening either, perhaps through boycotts to reduce revenue, or lawsuits, can trigger rapid reforms.
many institutions already have sufficient technical and financial resources to make the necessary changes, if incentivized to do so.
evidence-based strategies are highly effective in preventing CSV in institutions if strongly enforced. They include safeguarding measures like robust staff screening, high staff-to-child ratios, smaller establishment sizes, and child-friendly grievance mechanisms.
public pressure, particularly from parents and caregivers, can be mobilized to demand safer institutions and seek justice for children exposed to harm. Parents are the main market for many kinds of institutions, such as sports, camps, and religious groups, so have considerable untapped power to drive institutional change.
Where we can make a difference
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them. This progress could be greatly accelerated over the next five years with the right actions.
the decision-making structures of many institutions are centralized. Once the right person or office is convinced, the entire institution can change.
reputation and financial viability are major concerns for most institutions. Threatening either, perhaps through boycotts to reduce revenue, or lawsuits, can trigger rapid reforms.
many institutions already have sufficient technical and financial resources to make the necessary changes, if incentivized to do so.
evidence-based strategies are highly effective in preventing CSV in institutions if strongly enforced. They include safeguarding measures like robust staff screening, high staff-to-child ratios, smaller establishment sizes, and child-friendly grievance mechanisms.
public pressure, particularly from parents and caregivers, can be mobilized to demand safer institutions and seek justice for children exposed to harm. Parents are the main market for many kinds of institutions, such as sports, camps, and religious groups, so have considerable untapped power to drive institutional change.
Where we can make a difference
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them. This progress could be greatly accelerated over the next five years with the right actions.
the decision-making structures of many institutions are centralized. Once the right person or office is convinced, the entire institution can change.
reputation and financial viability are major concerns for most institutions. Threatening either, perhaps through boycotts to reduce revenue, or lawsuits, can trigger rapid reforms.
many institutions already have sufficient technical and financial resources to make the necessary changes, if incentivized to do so.
evidence-based strategies are highly effective in preventing CSV in institutions if strongly enforced. They include safeguarding measures like robust staff screening, high staff-to-child ratios, smaller establishment sizes, and child-friendly grievance mechanisms.
public pressure, particularly from parents and caregivers, can be mobilized to demand safer institutions and seek justice for children exposed to harm. Parents are the main market for many kinds of institutions, such as sports, camps, and religious groups, so have considerable untapped power to drive institutional change.
Where we can make a difference
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them. This progress could be greatly accelerated over the next five years with the right actions.
the decision-making structures of many institutions are centralized. Once the right person or office is convinced, the entire institution can change.
reputation and financial viability are major concerns for most institutions. Threatening either, perhaps through boycotts to reduce revenue, or lawsuits, can trigger rapid reforms.
many institutions already have sufficient technical and financial resources to make the necessary changes, if incentivized to do so.
evidence-based strategies are highly effective in preventing CSV in institutions if strongly enforced. They include safeguarding measures like robust staff screening, high staff-to-child ratios, smaller establishment sizes, and child-friendly grievance mechanisms.
public pressure, particularly from parents and caregivers, can be mobilized to demand safer institutions and seek justice for children exposed to harm. Parents are the main market for many kinds of institutions, such as sports, camps, and religious groups, so have considerable untapped power to drive institutional change.
Opportunities
Recent, high-profile cases of childhood sexual violence linked to institutions have increased public awareness and the political saliency of CSV, including:
within sports associations (e.g. gymnast associations, ballet schools, football training clubs);
within residential institutions on every continent, involving staff, celebrity benefactors and other residents;
within international development organizations (e.g. the World Bank, World Food Program, UNICEF and WHO);
within religious groups (e.g. the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, and Islamic “schools”); and
within youth-serving organizations (e.g. the Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America).
Growing concern at reports of abuse coupled with wide-spread distrust of institutions has led to stronger demands for accountability and harmonized advocacy for more effective and comprehensive safeguarding. Existing tools for exposing and cataloguing abuse, highlighted with strong media coverage, can expose institutions’ response (or lack thereof) to addressing abuse and heightens the reputational threat to institutions.
Opportunities
Recent, high-profile cases of childhood sexual violence linked to institutions have increased public awareness and the political saliency of CSV, including:
within sports associations (e.g. gymnast associations, ballet schools, football training clubs);
within residential institutions on every continent, involving staff, celebrity benefactors and other residents;
within international development organizations (e.g. the World Bank, World Food Program, UNICEF and WHO);
within religious groups (e.g. the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, and Islamic “schools”); and
within youth-serving organizations (e.g. the Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America).
Growing concern at reports of abuse coupled with wide-spread distrust of institutions has led to stronger demands for accountability and harmonized advocacy for more effective and comprehensive safeguarding. Existing tools for exposing and cataloguing abuse, highlighted with strong media coverage, can expose institutions’ response (or lack thereof) to addressing abuse and heightens the reputational threat to institutions.
Opportunities
Recent, high-profile cases of childhood sexual violence linked to institutions have increased public awareness and the political saliency of CSV, including:
within sports associations (e.g. gymnast associations, ballet schools, football training clubs);
within residential institutions on every continent, involving staff, celebrity benefactors and other residents;
within international development organizations (e.g. the World Bank, World Food Program, UNICEF and WHO);
within religious groups (e.g. the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, and Islamic “schools”); and
within youth-serving organizations (e.g. the Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America).
Growing concern at reports of abuse coupled with wide-spread distrust of institutions has led to stronger demands for accountability and harmonized advocacy for more effective and comprehensive safeguarding. Existing tools for exposing and cataloguing abuse, highlighted with strong media coverage, can expose institutions’ response (or lack thereof) to addressing abuse and heightens the reputational threat to institutions.
Opportunities
Recent, high-profile cases of childhood sexual violence linked to institutions have increased public awareness and the political saliency of CSV, including:
within sports associations (e.g. gymnast associations, ballet schools, football training clubs);
within residential institutions on every continent, involving staff, celebrity benefactors and other residents;
within international development organizations (e.g. the World Bank, World Food Program, UNICEF and WHO);
within religious groups (e.g. the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, and Islamic “schools”); and
within youth-serving organizations (e.g. the Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America).
Growing concern at reports of abuse coupled with wide-spread distrust of institutions has led to stronger demands for accountability and harmonized advocacy for more effective and comprehensive safeguarding. Existing tools for exposing and cataloguing abuse, highlighted with strong media coverage, can expose institutions’ response (or lack thereof) to addressing abuse and heightens the reputational threat to institutions.
The next steps
During the next five years, these changes will pressure and incentivize institutions to be better.
Make platforms to report and expose institutional abuse widely available and used, making it difficult for institutions to hide abuse and/or deny responsibility.
Instill a wider base of understanding and support around the need for safer institutions for children among a range of constituencies.
Establish public watchdog mechanisms.
Share examples of broad-based institutional change, which demonstrate the power of redesign and greater accountability. These examples could provide models for use with other institutions, including on the incentives and sanctions that drive change.
Create models of comprehensive, effective safeguarding programs. Encourage and support institutions to adopt these programs, and have their implementation and impact regularly monitored.
Use public, survivor-centered inquiries to regularly investigate reports of CSV within institutions, before implementing and enforcing inquiries’ recommendations.
Establish strategic litigation as an effective tool to drive institutional change, with key wins shared through strategic communications and leveraged by political activists.
Prioritize culturally robust and appropriate safeguarding within all child-facing institutions to prevent abuse before it happens and provide clear and viable systems to address concerns quickly.
Insurance companies should refuse coverage to institutions without adequate safeguards and governments and others take safeguarding policies into account when allocating funding.
Implement strong accountability mechanisms to track institutional responses to abuse, making inaction and cover-ups public.
The next steps
During the next five years, these changes will pressure and incentivize institutions to be better.
Make platforms to report and expose institutional abuse widely available and used, making it difficult for institutions to hide abuse and/or deny responsibility.
Instill a wider base of understanding and support around the need for safer institutions for children among a range of constituencies.
Establish public watchdog mechanisms.
Share examples of broad-based institutional change, which demonstrate the power of redesign and greater accountability. These examples could provide models for use with other institutions, including on the incentives and sanctions that drive change.
Create models of comprehensive, effective safeguarding programs. Encourage and support institutions to adopt these programs, and have their implementation and impact regularly monitored.
Use public, survivor-centered inquiries to regularly investigate reports of CSV within institutions, before implementing and enforcing inquiries’ recommendations.
Establish strategic litigation as an effective tool to drive institutional change, with key wins shared through strategic communications and leveraged by political activists.
Prioritize culturally robust and appropriate safeguarding within all child-facing institutions to prevent abuse before it happens and provide clear and viable systems to address concerns quickly.
Insurance companies should refuse coverage to institutions without adequate safeguards and governments and others take safeguarding policies into account when allocating funding.
Implement strong accountability mechanisms to track institutional responses to abuse, making inaction and cover-ups public.
The next steps
During the next five years, these changes will pressure and incentivize institutions to be better.
Make platforms to report and expose institutional abuse widely available and used, making it difficult for institutions to hide abuse and/or deny responsibility.
Instill a wider base of understanding and support around the need for safer institutions for children among a range of constituencies.
Establish public watchdog mechanisms.
Share examples of broad-based institutional change, which demonstrate the power of redesign and greater accountability. These examples could provide models for use with other institutions, including on the incentives and sanctions that drive change.
Create models of comprehensive, effective safeguarding programs. Encourage and support institutions to adopt these programs, and have their implementation and impact regularly monitored.
Use public, survivor-centered inquiries to regularly investigate reports of CSV within institutions, before implementing and enforcing inquiries’ recommendations.
Establish strategic litigation as an effective tool to drive institutional change, with key wins shared through strategic communications and leveraged by political activists.
Prioritize culturally robust and appropriate safeguarding within all child-facing institutions to prevent abuse before it happens and provide clear and viable systems to address concerns quickly.
Insurance companies should refuse coverage to institutions without adequate safeguards and governments and others take safeguarding policies into account when allocating funding.
Implement strong accountability mechanisms to track institutional responses to abuse, making inaction and cover-ups public.
The next steps
During the next five years, these changes will pressure and incentivize institutions to be better.
Make platforms to report and expose institutional abuse widely available and used, making it difficult for institutions to hide abuse and/or deny responsibility.
Instill a wider base of understanding and support around the need for safer institutions for children among a range of constituencies.
Establish public watchdog mechanisms.
Share examples of broad-based institutional change, which demonstrate the power of redesign and greater accountability. These examples could provide models for use with other institutions, including on the incentives and sanctions that drive change.
Create models of comprehensive, effective safeguarding programs. Encourage and support institutions to adopt these programs, and have their implementation and impact regularly monitored.
Use public, survivor-centered inquiries to regularly investigate reports of CSV within institutions, before implementing and enforcing inquiries’ recommendations.
Establish strategic litigation as an effective tool to drive institutional change, with key wins shared through strategic communications and leveraged by political activists.
Prioritize culturally robust and appropriate safeguarding within all child-facing institutions to prevent abuse before it happens and provide clear and viable systems to address concerns quickly.
Insurance companies should refuse coverage to institutions without adequate safeguards and governments and others take safeguarding policies into account when allocating funding.
Implement strong accountability mechanisms to track institutional responses to abuse, making inaction and cover-ups public.
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them.
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them.
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them.
Progress is underway to protect the safety of children within institutions and prevent childhood sexual violence happening within them.
4. Support justice systems that center children and survivors, end impunity for perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing
The challenge
Current approaches to CSV healing and justice are problematic for many reasons. Healing and justice are viewed separately, rather than as connected points in survivors’ recovery journey. Survivors are not sufficiently consulted on what justice means to them or what can be challenging about justice processes, meaning current approaches can be re-victimizing rather than healing.
Survivor- and child-centered justice systems must get better at recognizing survivors’ fundamental human rights, including due process, equality before the law, and access to effective recourse through competent courts. Some survivors and their communities distrust formal justice systems or find it hard to access them, often due to distance or a lack of resources.
There are also many bad practices and shortfalls in current justice systems, especially around forensics, statutes of limitations, and inappropriate evidentiary standards. Actors within the justice system – including police, investigators, judges, etc. – must improve their approach.
It has also become increasingly clear that children and their families need ongoing, trauma-informed support throughout the justice process, not just in the courtroom. This facilitates strong connections between prevention, healing, and justice and helps children move forward once judgements are issued.
In addition, while it’s essential to hold individual perpetrators to account, we will not prevent CSV without changing the underlying systems that facilitate it. These systems, and the governments and institutions that manage them, create environments where CSV is seen as permissible or tolerated.
The challenge
Current approaches to CSV healing and justice are problematic for many reasons. Healing and justice are viewed separately, rather than as connected points in survivors’ recovery journey. Survivors are not sufficiently consulted on what justice means to them or what can be challenging about justice processes, meaning current approaches can be re-victimizing rather than healing.
Survivor- and child-centered justice systems must get better at recognizing survivors’ fundamental human rights, including due process, equality before the law, and access to effective recourse through competent courts. Some survivors and their communities distrust formal justice systems or find it hard to access them, often due to distance or a lack of resources.
There are also many bad practices and shortfalls in current justice systems, especially around forensics, statutes of limitations, and inappropriate evidentiary standards. Actors within the justice system – including police, investigators, judges, etc. – must improve their approach.
It has also become increasingly clear that children and their families need ongoing, trauma-informed support throughout the justice process, not just in the courtroom. This facilitates strong connections between prevention, healing, and justice and helps children move forward once judgements are issued.
In addition, while it’s essential to hold individual perpetrators to account, we will not prevent CSV without changing the underlying systems that facilitate it. These systems, and the governments and institutions that manage them, create environments where CSV is seen as permissible or tolerated.
The challenge
Current approaches to CSV healing and justice are problematic for many reasons. Healing and justice are viewed separately, rather than as connected points in survivors’ recovery journey. Survivors are not sufficiently consulted on what justice means to them or what can be challenging about justice processes, meaning current approaches can be re-victimizing rather than healing.
Survivor- and child-centered justice systems must get better at recognizing survivors’ fundamental human rights, including due process, equality before the law, and access to effective recourse through competent courts. Some survivors and their communities distrust formal justice systems or find it hard to access them, often due to distance or a lack of resources.
There are also many bad practices and shortfalls in current justice systems, especially around forensics, statutes of limitations, and inappropriate evidentiary standards. Actors within the justice system – including police, investigators, judges, etc. – must improve their approach.
It has also become increasingly clear that children and their families need ongoing, trauma-informed support throughout the justice process, not just in the courtroom. This facilitates strong connections between prevention, healing, and justice and helps children move forward once judgements are issued.
In addition, while it’s essential to hold individual perpetrators to account, we will not prevent CSV without changing the underlying systems that facilitate it. These systems, and the governments and institutions that manage them, create environments where CSV is seen as permissible or tolerated.
The challenge
Current approaches to CSV healing and justice are problematic for many reasons. Healing and justice are viewed separately, rather than as connected points in survivors’ recovery journey. Survivors are not sufficiently consulted on what justice means to them or what can be challenging about justice processes, meaning current approaches can be re-victimizing rather than healing.
Survivor- and child-centered justice systems must get better at recognizing survivors’ fundamental human rights, including due process, equality before the law, and access to effective recourse through competent courts. Some survivors and their communities distrust formal justice systems or find it hard to access them, often due to distance or a lack of resources.
There are also many bad practices and shortfalls in current justice systems, especially around forensics, statutes of limitations, and inappropriate evidentiary standards. Actors within the justice system – including police, investigators, judges, etc. – must improve their approach.
It has also become increasingly clear that children and their families need ongoing, trauma-informed support throughout the justice process, not just in the courtroom. This facilitates strong connections between prevention, healing, and justice and helps children move forward once judgements are issued.
In addition, while it’s essential to hold individual perpetrators to account, we will not prevent CSV without changing the underlying systems that facilitate it. These systems, and the governments and institutions that manage them, create environments where CSV is seen as permissible or tolerated.
Where we can make a difference
Justice should be trauma-informed, focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Survivor advocates have emphasized that justice is often part of the healing process, but not exclusively through perpetrator punishment or incarceration. Many are open to restorative justice mechanisms that prioritize survivors’ agency and rights while avoiding feeding harmful notions and social/cultural norms.
If justice systems center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing, it will accelerate progress to end CSV in three important ways:
Survivors will trust systems to handle CSV cases, increasing disclosure rates, and the risks for perpetrators;
Pathways for alternative forms of justice that facilitate survivor-centered healing will develop;
Fundamentally, these actions will change the perspectives and practices of actors within the justice system.
Where we can make a difference
Justice should be trauma-informed, focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Survivor advocates have emphasized that justice is often part of the healing process, but not exclusively through perpetrator punishment or incarceration. Many are open to restorative justice mechanisms that prioritize survivors’ agency and rights while avoiding feeding harmful notions and social/cultural norms.
If justice systems center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing, it will accelerate progress to end CSV in three important ways:
Survivors will trust systems to handle CSV cases, increasing disclosure rates, and the risks for perpetrators;
Pathways for alternative forms of justice that facilitate survivor-centered healing will develop;
Fundamentally, these actions will change the perspectives and practices of actors within the justice system.
Where we can make a difference
Justice should be trauma-informed, focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Survivor advocates have emphasized that justice is often part of the healing process, but not exclusively through perpetrator punishment or incarceration. Many are open to restorative justice mechanisms that prioritize survivors’ agency and rights while avoiding feeding harmful notions and social/cultural norms.
If justice systems center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing, it will accelerate progress to end CSV in three important ways:
Survivors will trust systems to handle CSV cases, increasing disclosure rates, and the risks for perpetrators;
Pathways for alternative forms of justice that facilitate survivor-centered healing will develop;
Fundamentally, these actions will change the perspectives and practices of actors within the justice system.
Where we can make a difference
Justice should be trauma-informed, focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Survivor advocates have emphasized that justice is often part of the healing process, but not exclusively through perpetrator punishment or incarceration. Many are open to restorative justice mechanisms that prioritize survivors’ agency and rights while avoiding feeding harmful notions and social/cultural norms.
If justice systems center children and survivors, end impunity for adult perpetrators, and promote prevention and healing, it will accelerate progress to end CSV in three important ways:
Survivors will trust systems to handle CSV cases, increasing disclosure rates, and the risks for perpetrators;
Pathways for alternative forms of justice that facilitate survivor-centered healing will develop;
Fundamentally, these actions will change the perspectives and practices of actors within the justice system.
Opportunities
Momentum for improving justice systems is increasing.
More stakeholders are focused on ending impunity than ever before. Justice systems are seen as integral to that goal.
There is more evidence on strategies that effectively end impunity for adult perpetrators, including strategic litigation, national inquiries, and campaigns to cause or threaten reputational harm.
Survivor advocates are committed to linking justice with healing and prevention, with more openness to restorative justice.
Justice-focused groups are more willing to collaborate, with researchers, campaigners, and activists, collectively demanding change and coordinating work at every stage. They’re changing laws, building better systems for handling evidence, improving the capacity of police, physicians, and courts to engage with survivors, and calling attention to institutional impunity and precedent-setting cases.
There is an increased opportunity to use strategic litigation to change laws that obstruct justice. For example, campaigns to end statutes of limitations in both national and regional settings.
Opportunities
Momentum for improving justice systems is increasing.
More stakeholders are focused on ending impunity than ever before. Justice systems are seen as integral to that goal.
There is more evidence on strategies that effectively end impunity for adult perpetrators, including strategic litigation, national inquiries, and campaigns to cause or threaten reputational harm.
Survivor advocates are committed to linking justice with healing and prevention, with more openness to restorative justice.
Justice-focused groups are more willing to collaborate, with researchers, campaigners, and activists, collectively demanding change and coordinating work at every stage. They’re changing laws, building better systems for handling evidence, improving the capacity of police, physicians, and courts to engage with survivors, and calling attention to institutional impunity and precedent-setting cases.
There is an increased opportunity to use strategic litigation to change laws that obstruct justice. For example, campaigns to end statutes of limitations in both national and regional settings.
Opportunities
Momentum for improving justice systems is increasing.
More stakeholders are focused on ending impunity than ever before. Justice systems are seen as integral to that goal.
There is more evidence on strategies that effectively end impunity for adult perpetrators, including strategic litigation, national inquiries, and campaigns to cause or threaten reputational harm.
Survivor advocates are committed to linking justice with healing and prevention, with more openness to restorative justice.
Justice-focused groups are more willing to collaborate, with researchers, campaigners, and activists, collectively demanding change and coordinating work at every stage. They’re changing laws, building better systems for handling evidence, improving the capacity of police, physicians, and courts to engage with survivors, and calling attention to institutional impunity and precedent-setting cases.
There is an increased opportunity to use strategic litigation to change laws that obstruct justice. For example, campaigns to end statutes of limitations in both national and regional settings.
Opportunities
Momentum for improving justice systems is increasing.
More stakeholders are focused on ending impunity than ever before. Justice systems are seen as integral to that goal.
There is more evidence on strategies that effectively end impunity for adult perpetrators, including strategic litigation, national inquiries, and campaigns to cause or threaten reputational harm.
Survivor advocates are committed to linking justice with healing and prevention, with more openness to restorative justice.
Justice-focused groups are more willing to collaborate, with researchers, campaigners, and activists, collectively demanding change and coordinating work at every stage. They’re changing laws, building better systems for handling evidence, improving the capacity of police, physicians, and courts to engage with survivors, and calling attention to institutional impunity and precedent-setting cases.
There is an increased opportunity to use strategic litigation to change laws that obstruct justice. For example, campaigns to end statutes of limitations in both national and regional settings.
Real world example
In many countries, the forensic evidence of sexual violence is severely limited. Survivor-centered justice requires timely and high-quality forensic examination, evidence collection and documentation as part of comprehensive care. MediCapt is an innovative digital application created by Physicians for Human Rights, which enables clinicians to document forensic medical evidence and securely store forensic photographs of injuries.
“It’s up to us to help the justice system bend to children instead of expecting children to bend to the justice system. That requires an investment in building those kinds of supports for children into the system as a whole.” – Payal Shah, Physicians for Human Rights
Real world example
In many countries, the forensic evidence of sexual violence is severely limited. Survivor-centered justice requires timely and high-quality forensic examination, evidence collection and documentation as part of comprehensive care. MediCapt is an innovative digital application created by Physicians for Human Rights, which enables clinicians to document forensic medical evidence and securely store forensic photographs of injuries.
“It’s up to us to help the justice system bend to children instead of expecting children to bend to the justice system. That requires an investment in building those kinds of supports for children into the system as a whole.” – Payal Shah, Physicians for Human Rights
Real world example
In many countries, the forensic evidence of sexual violence is severely limited. Survivor-centered justice requires timely and high-quality forensic examination, evidence collection and documentation as part of comprehensive care. MediCapt is an innovative digital application created by Physicians for Human Rights, which enables clinicians to document forensic medical evidence and securely store forensic photographs of injuries.
“It’s up to us to help the justice system bend to children instead of expecting children to bend to the justice system. That requires an investment in building those kinds of supports for children into the system as a whole.” – Payal Shah, Physicians for Human Rights
Real world example
In many countries, the forensic evidence of sexual violence is severely limited. Survivor-centered justice requires timely and high-quality forensic examination, evidence collection and documentation as part of comprehensive care. MediCapt is an innovative digital application created by Physicians for Human Rights, which enables clinicians to document forensic medical evidence and securely store forensic photographs of injuries.
“It’s up to us to help the justice system bend to children instead of expecting children to bend to the justice system. That requires an investment in building those kinds of supports for children into the system as a whole.” – Payal Shah, Physicians for Human Rights
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the CSV justice landscape.
Introduce legally-mandated, comprehensive training for actors throughout the justice system in more survivor-centered, trauma-informed practices. Doing so in selected countries would allow these efforts to be carefully monitored and evaluated as models for other jurisdictions.
Make progress in specific areas, such as ending statutes of limitation worldwide, changing rape laws and shifting norms of practice among justice-related professionals who interact with survivors.
Instil fear of sanctions and incentivize better behaviors to shift attitudes and practices – e.g. within sports associations, youth-serving organizations or religious groups. The cost of perpetration must be high, consistent, and involve significant reputational harm at the institutional level.
Develop restorative justice and other alternative justice mechanisms and make them an option for survivors to promote new routes to healing and prevention.
Increase investment in innovation within the formal justice system, with new ways to facilitate more child- and survivor-centered responses.
Make comprehensive services available to survivors throughout the justice process.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the CSV justice landscape.
Introduce legally-mandated, comprehensive training for actors throughout the justice system in more survivor-centered, trauma-informed practices. Doing so in selected countries would allow these efforts to be carefully monitored and evaluated as models for other jurisdictions.
Make progress in specific areas, such as ending statutes of limitation worldwide, changing rape laws and shifting norms of practice among justice-related professionals who interact with survivors.
Instil fear of sanctions and incentivize better behaviors to shift attitudes and practices – e.g. within sports associations, youth-serving organizations or religious groups. The cost of perpetration must be high, consistent, and involve significant reputational harm at the institutional level.
Develop restorative justice and other alternative justice mechanisms and make them an option for survivors to promote new routes to healing and prevention.
Increase investment in innovation within the formal justice system, with new ways to facilitate more child- and survivor-centered responses.
Make comprehensive services available to survivors throughout the justice process.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the CSV justice landscape.
Introduce legally-mandated, comprehensive training for actors throughout the justice system in more survivor-centered, trauma-informed practices. Doing so in selected countries would allow these efforts to be carefully monitored and evaluated as models for other jurisdictions.
Make progress in specific areas, such as ending statutes of limitation worldwide, changing rape laws and shifting norms of practice among justice-related professionals who interact with survivors.
Instil fear of sanctions and incentivize better behaviors to shift attitudes and practices – e.g. within sports associations, youth-serving organizations or religious groups. The cost of perpetration must be high, consistent, and involve significant reputational harm at the institutional level.
Develop restorative justice and other alternative justice mechanisms and make them an option for survivors to promote new routes to healing and prevention.
Increase investment in innovation within the formal justice system, with new ways to facilitate more child- and survivor-centered responses.
Make comprehensive services available to survivors throughout the justice process.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform the CSV justice landscape.
Introduce legally-mandated, comprehensive training for actors throughout the justice system in more survivor-centered, trauma-informed practices. Doing so in selected countries would allow these efforts to be carefully monitored and evaluated as models for other jurisdictions.
Make progress in specific areas, such as ending statutes of limitation worldwide, changing rape laws and shifting norms of practice among justice-related professionals who interact with survivors.
Instil fear of sanctions and incentivize better behaviors to shift attitudes and practices – e.g. within sports associations, youth-serving organizations or religious groups. The cost of perpetration must be high, consistent, and involve significant reputational harm at the institutional level.
Develop restorative justice and other alternative justice mechanisms and make them an option for survivors to promote new routes to healing and prevention.
Increase investment in innovation within the formal justice system, with new ways to facilitate more child- and survivor-centered responses.
Make comprehensive services available to survivors throughout the justice process.
Justice should be trauma-informed and focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Justice should be trauma-informed and focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Justice should be trauma-informed and focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
Justice should be trauma-informed and focused on preventing harm to children, and provide quick remedy in situations where harm occurs.
5. Pressure and incentivize the tech industry to create safer digital spaces for children
The challenge
Digital spaces provide opportunities for connection, exploration, and education yet also expose children to significant harm. Online platforms are risky because they evolve rapidly, making them challenging to manage, and allow online sexual abuse material to circulate for years after the abuse has occurred. To ensure platforms where children and youth explore their sexuality are safe spaces, we need transnational collaboration.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry. The biggest players are well-resourced, well-connected and well-placed to drive positive change in this area. They are also directly in control of how their platforms’ algorithms work, how content is monitored and how user safety or age verification controls operate.
Market forces alone won’t make tech companies change. To ensure children have access to safe digital spaces, there needs to be both regulatory pressure and incentives to improve industry-wide practices. Strong, enforceable laws and regulations will drive change, particularly when implemented in countries with the greatest leverage (like the US and European countries).
Higher standards of conduct and safety must be enforced across jurisdictions, backed up by effective, well-resourced mechanisms to track compliance and transparency.
The challenge
Digital spaces provide opportunities for connection, exploration, and education yet also expose children to significant harm. Online platforms are risky because they evolve rapidly, making them challenging to manage, and allow online sexual abuse material to circulate for years after the abuse has occurred. To ensure platforms where children and youth explore their sexuality are safe spaces, we need transnational collaboration.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry. The biggest players are well-resourced, well-connected and well-placed to drive positive change in this area. They are also directly in control of how their platforms’ algorithms work, how content is monitored and how user safety or age verification controls operate.
Market forces alone won’t make tech companies change. To ensure children have access to safe digital spaces, there needs to be both regulatory pressure and incentives to improve industry-wide practices. Strong, enforceable laws and regulations will drive change, particularly when implemented in countries with the greatest leverage (like the US and European countries).
Higher standards of conduct and safety must be enforced across jurisdictions, backed up by effective, well-resourced mechanisms to track compliance and transparency.
The challenge
Digital spaces provide opportunities for connection, exploration, and education yet also expose children to significant harm. Online platforms are risky because they evolve rapidly, making them challenging to manage, and allow online sexual abuse material to circulate for years after the abuse has occurred. To ensure platforms where children and youth explore their sexuality are safe spaces, we need transnational collaboration.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry. The biggest players are well-resourced, well-connected and well-placed to drive positive change in this area. They are also directly in control of how their platforms’ algorithms work, how content is monitored and how user safety or age verification controls operate.
Market forces alone won’t make tech companies change. To ensure children have access to safe digital spaces, there needs to be both regulatory pressure and incentives to improve industry-wide practices. Strong, enforceable laws and regulations will drive change, particularly when implemented in countries with the greatest leverage (like the US and European countries).
Higher standards of conduct and safety must be enforced across jurisdictions, backed up by effective, well-resourced mechanisms to track compliance and transparency.
The challenge
Digital spaces provide opportunities for connection, exploration, and education yet also expose children to significant harm. Online platforms are risky because they evolve rapidly, making them challenging to manage, and allow online sexual abuse material to circulate for years after the abuse has occurred. To ensure platforms where children and youth explore their sexuality are safe spaces, we need transnational collaboration.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry. The biggest players are well-resourced, well-connected and well-placed to drive positive change in this area. They are also directly in control of how their platforms’ algorithms work, how content is monitored and how user safety or age verification controls operate.
Market forces alone won’t make tech companies change. To ensure children have access to safe digital spaces, there needs to be both regulatory pressure and incentives to improve industry-wide practices. Strong, enforceable laws and regulations will drive change, particularly when implemented in countries with the greatest leverage (like the US and European countries).
Higher standards of conduct and safety must be enforced across jurisdictions, backed up by effective, well-resourced mechanisms to track compliance and transparency.
Where we can make a difference
Pressuring and incentivizing the tech industry to ensure digital spaces are safe for children would contribute to ending CSV in several important ways. Action would reach millions of children, making their online experience safer. In many cases, it would also address the underlying vulnerabilities and risk factors that make children susceptible to grooming and abuse. Greater attention to safe digital spaces – looking at both the current risks and the potential for change – would help normalize CSV-related issues in public conversations.
Improving practices within the tech industry would also generate more resources for research and development and creative technical solutions. It could also provide a model for change for other industries that profit from the development or sharing of child sexual abuse materials.
Where we can make a difference
Pressuring and incentivizing the tech industry to ensure digital spaces are safe for children would contribute to ending CSV in several important ways. Action would reach millions of children, making their online experience safer. In many cases, it would also address the underlying vulnerabilities and risk factors that make children susceptible to grooming and abuse. Greater attention to safe digital spaces – looking at both the current risks and the potential for change – would help normalize CSV-related issues in public conversations.
Improving practices within the tech industry would also generate more resources for research and development and creative technical solutions. It could also provide a model for change for other industries that profit from the development or sharing of child sexual abuse materials.
Where we can make a difference
Pressuring and incentivizing the tech industry to ensure digital spaces are safe for children would contribute to ending CSV in several important ways. Action would reach millions of children, making their online experience safer. In many cases, it would also address the underlying vulnerabilities and risk factors that make children susceptible to grooming and abuse. Greater attention to safe digital spaces – looking at both the current risks and the potential for change – would help normalize CSV-related issues in public conversations.
Improving practices within the tech industry would also generate more resources for research and development and creative technical solutions. It could also provide a model for change for other industries that profit from the development or sharing of child sexual abuse materials.
Where we can make a difference
Pressuring and incentivizing the tech industry to ensure digital spaces are safe for children would contribute to ending CSV in several important ways. Action would reach millions of children, making their online experience safer. In many cases, it would also address the underlying vulnerabilities and risk factors that make children susceptible to grooming and abuse. Greater attention to safe digital spaces – looking at both the current risks and the potential for change – would help normalize CSV-related issues in public conversations.
Improving practices within the tech industry would also generate more resources for research and development and creative technical solutions. It could also provide a model for change for other industries that profit from the development or sharing of child sexual abuse materials.
Opportunities
The pressure on tech companies to create safe digital spaces is increasing.
Data about the risks children face online and more frequent reports of online sexual abuse support calls for greater regulation. There is also a growing understanding of the connections between online and in-person sexual abuse and, as a result, the need for comprehensive strategies that address both.
Recent successes in achieving stronger regulation of tech companies show there’s greater political appetite to hold tech companies accountable in jurisdictions (like the UK) that could shape global practices.
Parents are emerging as powerful advocates for greater tech regulation. There is also stronger collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders and emerging alliances with related fields, including mental health, anti-bullying, consumer rights, and anti-misinformation.
There are promising strategies for engaging tech companies in developing – and promoting – safer practices and innovations to support them (e.g. safety by design).
Governments can access technical support to help them adopt stronger online safety legislation. In addition, global collaboration is ramping up, including developing laws and regulations to regulate digital platforms. Finally, there’s stronger information sharing and law enforcement collaboration across borders.
Opportunities
The pressure on tech companies to create safe digital spaces is increasing.
Data about the risks children face online and more frequent reports of online sexual abuse support calls for greater regulation. There is also a growing understanding of the connections between online and in-person sexual abuse and, as a result, the need for comprehensive strategies that address both.
Recent successes in achieving stronger regulation of tech companies show there’s greater political appetite to hold tech companies accountable in jurisdictions (like the UK) that could shape global practices.
Parents are emerging as powerful advocates for greater tech regulation. There is also stronger collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders and emerging alliances with related fields, including mental health, anti-bullying, consumer rights, and anti-misinformation.
There are promising strategies for engaging tech companies in developing – and promoting – safer practices and innovations to support them (e.g. safety by design).
Governments can access technical support to help them adopt stronger online safety legislation. In addition, global collaboration is ramping up, including developing laws and regulations to regulate digital platforms. Finally, there’s stronger information sharing and law enforcement collaboration across borders.
Opportunities
The pressure on tech companies to create safe digital spaces is increasing.
Data about the risks children face online and more frequent reports of online sexual abuse support calls for greater regulation. There is also a growing understanding of the connections between online and in-person sexual abuse and, as a result, the need for comprehensive strategies that address both.
Recent successes in achieving stronger regulation of tech companies show there’s greater political appetite to hold tech companies accountable in jurisdictions (like the UK) that could shape global practices.
Parents are emerging as powerful advocates for greater tech regulation. There is also stronger collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders and emerging alliances with related fields, including mental health, anti-bullying, consumer rights, and anti-misinformation.
There are promising strategies for engaging tech companies in developing – and promoting – safer practices and innovations to support them (e.g. safety by design).
Governments can access technical support to help them adopt stronger online safety legislation. In addition, global collaboration is ramping up, including developing laws and regulations to regulate digital platforms. Finally, there’s stronger information sharing and law enforcement collaboration across borders.
Opportunities
The pressure on tech companies to create safe digital spaces is increasing.
Data about the risks children face online and more frequent reports of online sexual abuse support calls for greater regulation. There is also a growing understanding of the connections between online and in-person sexual abuse and, as a result, the need for comprehensive strategies that address both.
Recent successes in achieving stronger regulation of tech companies show there’s greater political appetite to hold tech companies accountable in jurisdictions (like the UK) that could shape global practices.
Parents are emerging as powerful advocates for greater tech regulation. There is also stronger collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders and emerging alliances with related fields, including mental health, anti-bullying, consumer rights, and anti-misinformation.
There are promising strategies for engaging tech companies in developing – and promoting – safer practices and innovations to support them (e.g. safety by design).
Governments can access technical support to help them adopt stronger online safety legislation. In addition, global collaboration is ramping up, including developing laws and regulations to regulate digital platforms. Finally, there’s stronger information sharing and law enforcement collaboration across borders.
Real world example
As the world’s first regulator of online safety, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, has created the Global Online Safety Regulators Network that combines the efforts of regulators in Ireland, the UK, Fiji, and several other countries to hold the tech industry accountable.
Working together, they’ve brought on board the European Commission and the DirectorateGeneral for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, getting them to sign a memorandum of understanding to take action on regulating online safety.
Real world example
As the world’s first regulator of online safety, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, has created the Global Online Safety Regulators Network that combines the efforts of regulators in Ireland, the UK, Fiji, and several other countries to hold the tech industry accountable.
Working together, they’ve brought on board the European Commission and the DirectorateGeneral for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, getting them to sign a memorandum of understanding to take action on regulating online safety.
Real world example
As the world’s first regulator of online safety, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, has created the Global Online Safety Regulators Network that combines the efforts of regulators in Ireland, the UK, Fiji, and several other countries to hold the tech industry accountable.
Working together, they’ve brought on board the European Commission and the DirectorateGeneral for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, getting them to sign a memorandum of understanding to take action on regulating online safety.
Real world example
As the world’s first regulator of online safety, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, has created the Global Online Safety Regulators Network that combines the efforts of regulators in Ireland, the UK, Fiji, and several other countries to hold the tech industry accountable.
Working together, they’ve brought on board the European Commission and the DirectorateGeneral for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, getting them to sign a memorandum of understanding to take action on regulating online safety.
The next steps
During the next five years, changes within the tech industry could lead to positive shifts.
Ensure there’s a strong and consistent regulatory framework for the tech industry in key jurisdictions, acting as a universal minimum standard for all countries.
Regularly and directly challenge tech industry executives, with survivors, parents, youth and lawmakers taking the lead, triggering action and a competitive domino effect.
Meaningfully engage the tech industry in developing innovative safer practices and reward them with greater market share if they are implemented.
Ramp up campaign, movement building, and strategic communications efforts across our sector, with campaigns that feature youth, survivors, caregivers and especially parents as consumers impacting market share if dissatisfied.
Establish a public expectation that digital spaces should be as safe and regulated as playgrounds and schools.
Strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms to support advocacy and campaigning, designed to fill the loopholes that currently exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.
The next steps
During the next five years, changes within the tech industry could lead to positive shifts.
Ensure there’s a strong and consistent regulatory framework for the tech industry in key jurisdictions, acting as a universal minimum standard for all countries.
Regularly and directly challenge tech industry executives, with survivors, parents, youth and lawmakers taking the lead, triggering action and a competitive domino effect.
Meaningfully engage the tech industry in developing innovative safer practices and reward them with greater market share if they are implemented.
Ramp up campaign, movement building, and strategic communications efforts across our sector, with campaigns that feature youth, survivors, caregivers and especially parents as consumers impacting market share if dissatisfied.
Establish a public expectation that digital spaces should be as safe and regulated as playgrounds and schools.
Strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms to support advocacy and campaigning, designed to fill the loopholes that currently exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.
The next steps
During the next five years, changes within the tech industry could lead to positive shifts.
Ensure there’s a strong and consistent regulatory framework for the tech industry in key jurisdictions, acting as a universal minimum standard for all countries.
Regularly and directly challenge tech industry executives, with survivors, parents, youth and lawmakers taking the lead, triggering action and a competitive domino effect.
Meaningfully engage the tech industry in developing innovative safer practices and reward them with greater market share if they are implemented.
Ramp up campaign, movement building, and strategic communications efforts across our sector, with campaigns that feature youth, survivors, caregivers and especially parents as consumers impacting market share if dissatisfied.
Establish a public expectation that digital spaces should be as safe and regulated as playgrounds and schools.
Strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms to support advocacy and campaigning, designed to fill the loopholes that currently exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.
The next steps
During the next five years, changes within the tech industry could lead to positive shifts.
Ensure there’s a strong and consistent regulatory framework for the tech industry in key jurisdictions, acting as a universal minimum standard for all countries.
Regularly and directly challenge tech industry executives, with survivors, parents, youth and lawmakers taking the lead, triggering action and a competitive domino effect.
Meaningfully engage the tech industry in developing innovative safer practices and reward them with greater market share if they are implemented.
Ramp up campaign, movement building, and strategic communications efforts across our sector, with campaigns that feature youth, survivors, caregivers and especially parents as consumers impacting market share if dissatisfied.
Establish a public expectation that digital spaces should be as safe and regulated as playgrounds and schools.
Strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms to support advocacy and campaigning, designed to fill the loopholes that currently exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.exist.
Help national, regional and global coalitions of civil society groups gain strength and momentum, with clear goals and strategies to achieve them.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry.
Keeping digital spaces safe for children is a task for many stakeholders, but the burden of responsibility and pressure to act must remain on the tech industry.
6. Enhance strategies to prevent peer-on-peer abuse and other problematic sexual behavior among adolescents and children
The challenge
A significant proportion of those committing CSV are children themselves, typically close in age to their victims. Concerningly, our background research shows the number of offences committed by children has been rising, even as overall levels of sexual offences against children have steadily decreased.
Ignorance makes children more vulnerable to making mistakes and poor choices as they begin to engage in complex behaviors. Nowhere is this truer than with dating and sexuality – where there’s little appropriate guidance and even efforts to prevent children learning from healthy examples.
The recent increase in young people’s problematic sexual behaviors coincides with unregulated access to technology and harmful content online. Young people tend to model what they experience or are exposed to, so harmful online content can breed attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that normalize and trivialize sexual violence.
Lots of content – both online and offline – also depicts distorted views of gender norms and relationships to confuse young people further. For females, this may emphasize submissive, seductive or manipulative behavior. For males, it may include “manosphere” groups or individual influencers that spread hateful ideas about women, and trans and non-binary people.
Pornography can now be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time – including to children and adolescents across the world. Evidence increasingly suggests that children are exposed to these materials at an early age and that mainstream pornography commonly depicts aggression (overwhelmingly against women) and largely troubling messages around consent.
Ongoing research suggests that exposure to harmful online content is reshaping young people’s understanding of sex and intimate relationships, so there’s a strong sense that we must take urgent action to reverse these worrying trends.
Even though online platforms can be dangerous, they can also be some children’s only route to accessing positive information about sexuality and healthy relationships. The goal is not to prevent children from accessing the Internet, but to ensure that what they find online is reliable and safe.
The challenge
A significant proportion of those committing CSV are children themselves, typically close in age to their victims. Concerningly, our background research shows the number of offences committed by children has been rising, even as overall levels of sexual offences against children have steadily decreased.
Ignorance makes children more vulnerable to making mistakes and poor choices as they begin to engage in complex behaviors. Nowhere is this truer than with dating and sexuality – where there’s little appropriate guidance and even efforts to prevent children learning from healthy examples.
The recent increase in young people’s problematic sexual behaviors coincides with unregulated access to technology and harmful content online. Young people tend to model what they experience or are exposed to, so harmful online content can breed attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that normalize and trivialize sexual violence.
Lots of content – both online and offline – also depicts distorted views of gender norms and relationships to confuse young people further. For females, this may emphasize submissive, seductive or manipulative behavior. For males, it may include “manosphere” groups or individual influencers that spread hateful ideas about women, and trans and non-binary people.
Pornography can now be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time – including to children and adolescents across the world. Evidence increasingly suggests that children are exposed to these materials at an early age and that mainstream pornography commonly depicts aggression (overwhelmingly against women) and largely troubling messages around consent.
Ongoing research suggests that exposure to harmful online content is reshaping young people’s understanding of sex and intimate relationships, so there’s a strong sense that we must take urgent action to reverse these worrying trends.
Even though online platforms can be dangerous, they can also be some children’s only route to accessing positive information about sexuality and healthy relationships. The goal is not to prevent children from accessing the Internet, but to ensure that what they find online is reliable and safe.
The challenge
A significant proportion of those committing CSV are children themselves, typically close in age to their victims. Concerningly, our background research shows the number of offences committed by children has been rising, even as overall levels of sexual offences against children have steadily decreased.
Ignorance makes children more vulnerable to making mistakes and poor choices as they begin to engage in complex behaviors. Nowhere is this truer than with dating and sexuality – where there’s little appropriate guidance and even efforts to prevent children learning from healthy examples.
The recent increase in young people’s problematic sexual behaviors coincides with unregulated access to technology and harmful content online. Young people tend to model what they experience or are exposed to, so harmful online content can breed attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that normalize and trivialize sexual violence.
Lots of content – both online and offline – also depicts distorted views of gender norms and relationships to confuse young people further. For females, this may emphasize submissive, seductive or manipulative behavior. For males, it may include “manosphere” groups or individual influencers that spread hateful ideas about women, and trans and non-binary people.
Pornography can now be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time – including to children and adolescents across the world. Evidence increasingly suggests that children are exposed to these materials at an early age and that mainstream pornography commonly depicts aggression (overwhelmingly against women) and largely troubling messages around consent.
Ongoing research suggests that exposure to harmful online content is reshaping young people’s understanding of sex and intimate relationships, so there’s a strong sense that we must take urgent action to reverse these worrying trends.
Even though online platforms can be dangerous, they can also be some children’s only route to accessing positive information about sexuality and healthy relationships. The goal is not to prevent children from accessing the Internet, but to ensure that what they find online is reliable and safe.
The challenge
A significant proportion of those committing CSV are children themselves, typically close in age to their victims. Concerningly, our background research shows the number of offences committed by children has been rising, even as overall levels of sexual offences against children have steadily decreased.
Ignorance makes children more vulnerable to making mistakes and poor choices as they begin to engage in complex behaviors. Nowhere is this truer than with dating and sexuality – where there’s little appropriate guidance and even efforts to prevent children learning from healthy examples.
The recent increase in young people’s problematic sexual behaviors coincides with unregulated access to technology and harmful content online. Young people tend to model what they experience or are exposed to, so harmful online content can breed attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that normalize and trivialize sexual violence.
Lots of content – both online and offline – also depicts distorted views of gender norms and relationships to confuse young people further. For females, this may emphasize submissive, seductive or manipulative behavior. For males, it may include “manosphere” groups or individual influencers that spread hateful ideas about women, and trans and non-binary people.
Pornography can now be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time – including to children and adolescents across the world. Evidence increasingly suggests that children are exposed to these materials at an early age and that mainstream pornography commonly depicts aggression (overwhelmingly against women) and largely troubling messages around consent.
Ongoing research suggests that exposure to harmful online content is reshaping young people’s understanding of sex and intimate relationships, so there’s a strong sense that we must take urgent action to reverse these worrying trends.
Even though online platforms can be dangerous, they can also be some children’s only route to accessing positive information about sexuality and healthy relationships. The goal is not to prevent children from accessing the Internet, but to ensure that what they find online is reliable and safe.
Where we can make a difference
Addressing problematic sexual behaviors among children and young people will contribute to ending CSV in several ways. Children and adolescents are increasingly lonely and isolated, which can lead to poor self-image. As a result, they are more susceptible to believing distorted messages about sexuality and consent. Initiatives that promote accurate knowledge, healthy relationships, and social connections could make them more resilient to harmful media.
Additionally, increasing the role of young people in identifying problems and solutions would build energy and ownership for long-term change. Action in this area can also help protect children from the business model that underlies profit-motivated online platforms, which prioritizes capturing and maintaining viewers over all other objectives.
Where we can make a difference
Addressing problematic sexual behaviors among children and young people will contribute to ending CSV in several ways. Children and adolescents are increasingly lonely and isolated, which can lead to poor self-image. As a result, they are more susceptible to believing distorted messages about sexuality and consent. Initiatives that promote accurate knowledge, healthy relationships, and social connections could make them more resilient to harmful media.
Additionally, increasing the role of young people in identifying problems and solutions would build energy and ownership for long-term change. Action in this area can also help protect children from the business model that underlies profit-motivated online platforms, which prioritizes capturing and maintaining viewers over all other objectives.
Where we can make a difference
Addressing problematic sexual behaviors among children and young people will contribute to ending CSV in several ways. Children and adolescents are increasingly lonely and isolated, which can lead to poor self-image. As a result, they are more susceptible to believing distorted messages about sexuality and consent. Initiatives that promote accurate knowledge, healthy relationships, and social connections could make them more resilient to harmful media.
Additionally, increasing the role of young people in identifying problems and solutions would build energy and ownership for long-term change. Action in this area can also help protect children from the business model that underlies profit-motivated online platforms, which prioritizes capturing and maintaining viewers over all other objectives.
Where we can make a difference
Addressing problematic sexual behaviors among children and young people will contribute to ending CSV in several ways. Children and adolescents are increasingly lonely and isolated, which can lead to poor self-image. As a result, they are more susceptible to believing distorted messages about sexuality and consent. Initiatives that promote accurate knowledge, healthy relationships, and social connections could make them more resilient to harmful media.
Additionally, increasing the role of young people in identifying problems and solutions would build energy and ownership for long-term change. Action in this area can also help protect children from the business model that underlies profit-motivated online platforms, which prioritizes capturing and maintaining viewers over all other objectives.
Opportunities
Momentum to address this problem is increasing.
There is emerging evidence of strategies that work to prevent children from becoming victims and committing abuse. They include:
advocacy around platform regulation of harmful content and pornography;
sharing positive, alternative gender narratives;
supporting parents and caregivers to engage their children in conversations about dating and sex;
creating spaces for young people to discuss healthy relationships safely;
comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality and consent; and
promoting youth voice and leadership.
Whole-school approaches that engage teachers, parents, administrators, and surrounding communities to deliver comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality, and consent are showing promising results.
Common-sense, low-cost prevention efforts that target the high-risk physical locations (e.g. stationing teachers in hallways during class changes; removing obstacles to direct line-of-sight monitoring on playgrounds; and improving lighting in dark spaces) are also effective in preventing problematic sexual behaviors in schools.
Opportunities
Momentum to address this problem is increasing.
There is emerging evidence of strategies that work to prevent children from becoming victims and committing abuse. They include:
advocacy around platform regulation of harmful content and pornography;
sharing positive, alternative gender narratives;
supporting parents and caregivers to engage their children in conversations about dating and sex;
creating spaces for young people to discuss healthy relationships safely;
comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality and consent; and
promoting youth voice and leadership.
Whole-school approaches that engage teachers, parents, administrators, and surrounding communities to deliver comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality, and consent are showing promising results.
Common-sense, low-cost prevention efforts that target the high-risk physical locations (e.g. stationing teachers in hallways during class changes; removing obstacles to direct line-of-sight monitoring on playgrounds; and improving lighting in dark spaces) are also effective in preventing problematic sexual behaviors in schools.
Opportunities
Momentum to address this problem is increasing.
There is emerging evidence of strategies that work to prevent children from becoming victims and committing abuse. They include:
advocacy around platform regulation of harmful content and pornography;
sharing positive, alternative gender narratives;
supporting parents and caregivers to engage their children in conversations about dating and sex;
creating spaces for young people to discuss healthy relationships safely;
comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality and consent; and
promoting youth voice and leadership.
Whole-school approaches that engage teachers, parents, administrators, and surrounding communities to deliver comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality, and consent are showing promising results.
Common-sense, low-cost prevention efforts that target the high-risk physical locations (e.g. stationing teachers in hallways during class changes; removing obstacles to direct line-of-sight monitoring on playgrounds; and improving lighting in dark spaces) are also effective in preventing problematic sexual behaviors in schools.
Opportunities
Momentum to address this problem is increasing.
There is emerging evidence of strategies that work to prevent children from becoming victims and committing abuse. They include:
advocacy around platform regulation of harmful content and pornography;
sharing positive, alternative gender narratives;
supporting parents and caregivers to engage their children in conversations about dating and sex;
creating spaces for young people to discuss healthy relationships safely;
comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality and consent; and
promoting youth voice and leadership.
Whole-school approaches that engage teachers, parents, administrators, and surrounding communities to deliver comprehensive education on healthy relationships, sexuality, and consent are showing promising results.
Common-sense, low-cost prevention efforts that target the high-risk physical locations (e.g. stationing teachers in hallways during class changes; removing obstacles to direct line-of-sight monitoring on playgrounds; and improving lighting in dark spaces) are also effective in preventing problematic sexual behaviors in schools.
Real world example
‘It's Time We Talked’ is a violence prevention initiative fostering conversations about the negative impacts pornography can have on young people. The organization actively engages in these public discussions by producing documentaries, writing articles, and participating in interviews across TV, radio, and podcasts. They also maintain a regular social media presence to raise awareness, aiming to encourage open conversations and enhance public understanding.
Real world example
‘It's Time We Talked’ is a violence prevention initiative fostering conversations about the negative impacts pornography can have on young people. The organization actively engages in these public discussions by producing documentaries, writing articles, and participating in interviews across TV, radio, and podcasts. They also maintain a regular social media presence to raise awareness, aiming to encourage open conversations and enhance public understanding.
Real world example
‘It's Time We Talked’ is a violence prevention initiative fostering conversations about the negative impacts pornography can have on young people. The organization actively engages in these public discussions by producing documentaries, writing articles, and participating in interviews across TV, radio, and podcasts. They also maintain a regular social media presence to raise awareness, aiming to encourage open conversations and enhance public understanding.
Real world example
‘It's Time We Talked’ is a violence prevention initiative fostering conversations about the negative impacts pornography can have on young people. The organization actively engages in these public discussions by producing documentaries, writing articles, and participating in interviews across TV, radio, and podcasts. They also maintain a regular social media presence to raise awareness, aiming to encourage open conversations and enhance public understanding.
The next steps
During the next five years, these interventions are likely to have a positive impact.
Make whole-school approaches to educating children and adolescents on healthy relationships, sexuality, and make consent the norm in primary and secondary schools.
Support programs and research that ensure parents have easy and sufficient access to information and tools that help them have conversations about healthy relationships, sexuality, consent, online behavior, and safety with children.
Regulate online platforms in ways that prevent children being unintentionally exposed to harmful content, particularly in influential jurisdictions.
Engage youth leaders and youth-led organizations to develop and implement initiatives that support strong and healthy relationships among children and adolescents, and promote their rights.
Develop a body of social media that depicts healthy relationships and positive gender norms, counteracting negative social influencers and the distorted behaviors embedded in online pornography. This would include safe digital spaces for adolescents to interact, share experiences, and seek reliable, appropriate information.
The next steps
During the next five years, these interventions are likely to have a positive impact.
Make whole-school approaches to educating children and adolescents on healthy relationships, sexuality, and make consent the norm in primary and secondary schools.
Support programs and research that ensure parents have easy and sufficient access to information and tools that help them have conversations about healthy relationships, sexuality, consent, online behavior, and safety with children.
Regulate online platforms in ways that prevent children being unintentionally exposed to harmful content, particularly in influential jurisdictions.
Engage youth leaders and youth-led organizations to develop and implement initiatives that support strong and healthy relationships among children and adolescents, and promote their rights.
Develop a body of social media that depicts healthy relationships and positive gender norms, counteracting negative social influencers and the distorted behaviors embedded in online pornography. This would include safe digital spaces for adolescents to interact, share experiences, and seek reliable, appropriate information.
The next steps
During the next five years, these interventions are likely to have a positive impact.
Make whole-school approaches to educating children and adolescents on healthy relationships, sexuality, and make consent the norm in primary and secondary schools.
Support programs and research that ensure parents have easy and sufficient access to information and tools that help them have conversations about healthy relationships, sexuality, consent, online behavior, and safety with children.
Regulate online platforms in ways that prevent children being unintentionally exposed to harmful content, particularly in influential jurisdictions.
Engage youth leaders and youth-led organizations to develop and implement initiatives that support strong and healthy relationships among children and adolescents, and promote their rights.
Develop a body of social media that depicts healthy relationships and positive gender norms, counteracting negative social influencers and the distorted behaviors embedded in online pornography. This would include safe digital spaces for adolescents to interact, share experiences, and seek reliable, appropriate information.
The next steps
During the next five years, these interventions are likely to have a positive impact.
Make whole-school approaches to educating children and adolescents on healthy relationships, sexuality, and make consent the norm in primary and secondary schools.
Support programs and research that ensure parents have easy and sufficient access to information and tools that help them have conversations about healthy relationships, sexuality, consent, online behavior, and safety with children.
Regulate online platforms in ways that prevent children being unintentionally exposed to harmful content, particularly in influential jurisdictions.
Engage youth leaders and youth-led organizations to develop and implement initiatives that support strong and healthy relationships among children and adolescents, and promote their rights.
Develop a body of social media that depicts healthy relationships and positive gender norms, counteracting negative social influencers and the distorted behaviors embedded in online pornography. This would include safe digital spaces for adolescents to interact, share experiences, and seek reliable, appropriate information.
Perhaps the single most relevant risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors among children and adolescents is ignorance.
Perhaps the single most relevant risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors among children and adolescents is ignorance.
Perhaps the single most relevant risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors among children and adolescents is ignorance.
Perhaps the single most relevant risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors among children and adolescents is ignorance.
7. Strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence, including strategies to end it and measures to track progress
The challenge
Over the past decade, our field has gained a greater understanding of effective prevention and response strategies, interventions, and policies around childhood sexual violence. Clear and compelling evidence builds public support for prevention, helps convince policymakers to act, and fuels campaigns and activism. That’s why it’s essential that we ramp up research efforts, particularly those with inclusive methodologies, as a sector priority.
According to insights and research shared with us from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), there are five key limitations to current CSV research:
There are gaps in data and knowledge. There are several factors that are hindering research. These include gaps in national prevalence data, inconsistent frameworks and definitions, limited understanding of program impact and fragmented insights on key issues such as online abuse and adult perpetrators.
There is more to learn about evaluating and scaling CSV prevention and response. There are still significant gaps – particularly in understanding how mechanisms of change work and calculating the cost and practicalities of replicating them at scale. Research can also be too focused on short-term outputs rather than looking at long-term behavior change or outcome measures and neglect the impact of therapy and counseling.
Research should be streamlined and simplified for impact. The length and complexity of the peer-review process and the often-inaccessible language used by researchers means research is slow to emerge and hard to utilize. Siloed working leads to repetitive or conflicting data and narrowly focused research. Finally, there’s a serious lack of costing and cost-effectiveness data around CSV actions.
Power and control in CSV-evidence building must shift. Evidence is defined in ‘Western’ research terms and prioritizes ‘gold star’ standards of determining causality from randomized control trials (RCTs). While rigorous scientific methods are important in assessing program impact, they should complement respect for and use of evidence from indigenous and practice-based knowledge systems.
There’s a lack of coordinated, sustained and flexible funding. As outlined in our ‘reshape the funding landscape’ Action Accelerator, more funding is needed for comprehensive intervention research.
The challenge
Over the past decade, our field has gained a greater understanding of effective prevention and response strategies, interventions, and policies around childhood sexual violence. Clear and compelling evidence builds public support for prevention, helps convince policymakers to act, and fuels campaigns and activism. That’s why it’s essential that we ramp up research efforts, particularly those with inclusive methodologies, as a sector priority.
According to insights and research shared with us from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), there are five key limitations to current CSV research:
There are gaps in data and knowledge. There are several factors that are hindering research. These include gaps in national prevalence data, inconsistent frameworks and definitions, limited understanding of program impact and fragmented insights on key issues such as online abuse and adult perpetrators.
There is more to learn about evaluating and scaling CSV prevention and response. There are still significant gaps – particularly in understanding how mechanisms of change work and calculating the cost and practicalities of replicating them at scale. Research can also be too focused on short-term outputs rather than looking at long-term behavior change or outcome measures and neglect the impact of therapy and counseling.
Research should be streamlined and simplified for impact. The length and complexity of the peer-review process and the often-inaccessible language used by researchers means research is slow to emerge and hard to utilize. Siloed working leads to repetitive or conflicting data and narrowly focused research. Finally, there’s a serious lack of costing and cost-effectiveness data around CSV actions.
Power and control in CSV-evidence building must shift. Evidence is defined in ‘Western’ research terms and prioritizes ‘gold star’ standards of determining causality from randomized control trials (RCTs). While rigorous scientific methods are important in assessing program impact, they should complement respect for and use of evidence from indigenous and practice-based knowledge systems.
There’s a lack of coordinated, sustained and flexible funding. As outlined in our ‘reshape the funding landscape’ Action Accelerator, more funding is needed for comprehensive intervention research.
The challenge
Over the past decade, our field has gained a greater understanding of effective prevention and response strategies, interventions, and policies around childhood sexual violence. Clear and compelling evidence builds public support for prevention, helps convince policymakers to act, and fuels campaigns and activism. That’s why it’s essential that we ramp up research efforts, particularly those with inclusive methodologies, as a sector priority.
According to insights and research shared with us from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), there are five key limitations to current CSV research:
There are gaps in data and knowledge. There are several factors that are hindering research. These include gaps in national prevalence data, inconsistent frameworks and definitions, limited understanding of program impact and fragmented insights on key issues such as online abuse and adult perpetrators.
There is more to learn about evaluating and scaling CSV prevention and response. There are still significant gaps – particularly in understanding how mechanisms of change work and calculating the cost and practicalities of replicating them at scale. Research can also be too focused on short-term outputs rather than looking at long-term behavior change or outcome measures and neglect the impact of therapy and counseling.
Research should be streamlined and simplified for impact. The length and complexity of the peer-review process and the often-inaccessible language used by researchers means research is slow to emerge and hard to utilize. Siloed working leads to repetitive or conflicting data and narrowly focused research. Finally, there’s a serious lack of costing and cost-effectiveness data around CSV actions.
Power and control in CSV-evidence building must shift. Evidence is defined in ‘Western’ research terms and prioritizes ‘gold star’ standards of determining causality from randomized control trials (RCTs). While rigorous scientific methods are important in assessing program impact, they should complement respect for and use of evidence from indigenous and practice-based knowledge systems.
There’s a lack of coordinated, sustained and flexible funding. As outlined in our ‘reshape the funding landscape’ Action Accelerator, more funding is needed for comprehensive intervention research.
The challenge
Over the past decade, our field has gained a greater understanding of effective prevention and response strategies, interventions, and policies around childhood sexual violence. Clear and compelling evidence builds public support for prevention, helps convince policymakers to act, and fuels campaigns and activism. That’s why it’s essential that we ramp up research efforts, particularly those with inclusive methodologies, as a sector priority.
According to insights and research shared with us from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), there are five key limitations to current CSV research:
There are gaps in data and knowledge. There are several factors that are hindering research. These include gaps in national prevalence data, inconsistent frameworks and definitions, limited understanding of program impact and fragmented insights on key issues such as online abuse and adult perpetrators.
There is more to learn about evaluating and scaling CSV prevention and response. There are still significant gaps – particularly in understanding how mechanisms of change work and calculating the cost and practicalities of replicating them at scale. Research can also be too focused on short-term outputs rather than looking at long-term behavior change or outcome measures and neglect the impact of therapy and counseling.
Research should be streamlined and simplified for impact. The length and complexity of the peer-review process and the often-inaccessible language used by researchers means research is slow to emerge and hard to utilize. Siloed working leads to repetitive or conflicting data and narrowly focused research. Finally, there’s a serious lack of costing and cost-effectiveness data around CSV actions.
Power and control in CSV-evidence building must shift. Evidence is defined in ‘Western’ research terms and prioritizes ‘gold star’ standards of determining causality from randomized control trials (RCTs). While rigorous scientific methods are important in assessing program impact, they should complement respect for and use of evidence from indigenous and practice-based knowledge systems.
There’s a lack of coordinated, sustained and flexible funding. As outlined in our ‘reshape the funding landscape’ Action Accelerator, more funding is needed for comprehensive intervention research.
Where we can make a difference
Research findings can be used in multiple ways to accelerate prevention of and response to CSV.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction. It pushes back on narratives that position CSV as “unpreventable” or claims that “we don’t know what to do”. Connecting research with practice in “real” time and ensuring that practitioners understand and can apply results to their work would accelerate effective action.
Where we can make a difference
Research findings can be used in multiple ways to accelerate prevention of and response to CSV.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction. It pushes back on narratives that position CSV as “unpreventable” or claims that “we don’t know what to do”. Connecting research with practice in “real” time and ensuring that practitioners understand and can apply results to their work would accelerate effective action.
Where we can make a difference
Research findings can be used in multiple ways to accelerate prevention of and response to CSV.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction. It pushes back on narratives that position CSV as “unpreventable” or claims that “we don’t know what to do”. Connecting research with practice in “real” time and ensuring that practitioners understand and can apply results to their work would accelerate effective action.
Where we can make a difference
Research findings can be used in multiple ways to accelerate prevention of and response to CSV.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction. It pushes back on narratives that position CSV as “unpreventable” or claims that “we don’t know what to do”. Connecting research with practice in “real” time and ensuring that practitioners understand and can apply results to their work would accelerate effective action.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape how we approach CSV research and evidence.
Powerful collaborations and national coalitions are forming to promote solution-oriented research and fill existing gaps. This includes the Safe Futures Hub, the Sexual Violence Research Network, Safe Online, the Technical Coalition Safe Online Research Network, Prevention Global, and Together for Girls, among others.
A coalition including UNICEF, Together for Girls and the WHO (among others) has developed the first-ever globally agreed prevalence numbers on sexual violence against girls and boys (When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the global scale of sexual violence against children). Their report includes a breakdown between contact and non-contact sexual violence and sexual violence by age group and region.
Collectively, researchers, policy makers and practitioners working to end CSV are learning and sharing the burden of research. For example, in one case, organizations and researchers are working across seven different studies to maximize learning and the use of measurement tools that relate to perpetration prevention.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape how we approach CSV research and evidence.
Powerful collaborations and national coalitions are forming to promote solution-oriented research and fill existing gaps. This includes the Safe Futures Hub, the Sexual Violence Research Network, Safe Online, the Technical Coalition Safe Online Research Network, Prevention Global, and Together for Girls, among others.
A coalition including UNICEF, Together for Girls and the WHO (among others) has developed the first-ever globally agreed prevalence numbers on sexual violence against girls and boys (When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the global scale of sexual violence against children). Their report includes a breakdown between contact and non-contact sexual violence and sexual violence by age group and region.
Collectively, researchers, policy makers and practitioners working to end CSV are learning and sharing the burden of research. For example, in one case, organizations and researchers are working across seven different studies to maximize learning and the use of measurement tools that relate to perpetration prevention.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape how we approach CSV research and evidence.
Powerful collaborations and national coalitions are forming to promote solution-oriented research and fill existing gaps. This includes the Safe Futures Hub, the Sexual Violence Research Network, Safe Online, the Technical Coalition Safe Online Research Network, Prevention Global, and Together for Girls, among others.
A coalition including UNICEF, Together for Girls and the WHO (among others) has developed the first-ever globally agreed prevalence numbers on sexual violence against girls and boys (When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the global scale of sexual violence against children). Their report includes a breakdown between contact and non-contact sexual violence and sexual violence by age group and region.
Collectively, researchers, policy makers and practitioners working to end CSV are learning and sharing the burden of research. For example, in one case, organizations and researchers are working across seven different studies to maximize learning and the use of measurement tools that relate to perpetration prevention.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape how we approach CSV research and evidence.
Powerful collaborations and national coalitions are forming to promote solution-oriented research and fill existing gaps. This includes the Safe Futures Hub, the Sexual Violence Research Network, Safe Online, the Technical Coalition Safe Online Research Network, Prevention Global, and Together for Girls, among others.
A coalition including UNICEF, Together for Girls and the WHO (among others) has developed the first-ever globally agreed prevalence numbers on sexual violence against girls and boys (When Numbers Demand Action: Confronting the global scale of sexual violence against children). Their report includes a breakdown between contact and non-contact sexual violence and sexual violence by age group and region.
Collectively, researchers, policy makers and practitioners working to end CSV are learning and sharing the burden of research. For example, in one case, organizations and researchers are working across seven different studies to maximize learning and the use of measurement tools that relate to perpetration prevention.
Real world example
The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University is dedicated to building the evidence base for the prevention of child sexual abuse, worldwide, at scale. The Center currently hosts the Prevention Global project to accelerate the evidence on perpetration prevention programs.
Seven impact evaluation studies are currently underway which can fundamentally change our understanding of how to prevent child sexual abuse. A digital hub, Prevention Global, shares insights into the effective prevention of child sexual abuse, providing cutting-edge analyses of the opportunities and challenges.
The Center is also leading on the first ever surveys of child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence, with completed surveys in Tanzania and Germany and upcoming ones in Brazil and the United States. Visibility on the prevalence of perpetration paired with evidence-based solutions will leapfrog our efforts to prevent child sexual abuse worldwide.
Real world example
The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University is dedicated to building the evidence base for the prevention of child sexual abuse, worldwide, at scale. The Center currently hosts the Prevention Global project to accelerate the evidence on perpetration prevention programs.
Seven impact evaluation studies are currently underway which can fundamentally change our understanding of how to prevent child sexual abuse. A digital hub, Prevention Global, shares insights into the effective prevention of child sexual abuse, providing cutting-edge analyses of the opportunities and challenges.
The Center is also leading on the first ever surveys of child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence, with completed surveys in Tanzania and Germany and upcoming ones in Brazil and the United States. Visibility on the prevalence of perpetration paired with evidence-based solutions will leapfrog our efforts to prevent child sexual abuse worldwide.
Real world example
The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University is dedicated to building the evidence base for the prevention of child sexual abuse, worldwide, at scale. The Center currently hosts the Prevention Global project to accelerate the evidence on perpetration prevention programs.
Seven impact evaluation studies are currently underway which can fundamentally change our understanding of how to prevent child sexual abuse. A digital hub, Prevention Global, shares insights into the effective prevention of child sexual abuse, providing cutting-edge analyses of the opportunities and challenges.
The Center is also leading on the first ever surveys of child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence, with completed surveys in Tanzania and Germany and upcoming ones in Brazil and the United States. Visibility on the prevalence of perpetration paired with evidence-based solutions will leapfrog our efforts to prevent child sexual abuse worldwide.
Real world example
The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University is dedicated to building the evidence base for the prevention of child sexual abuse, worldwide, at scale. The Center currently hosts the Prevention Global project to accelerate the evidence on perpetration prevention programs.
Seven impact evaluation studies are currently underway which can fundamentally change our understanding of how to prevent child sexual abuse. A digital hub, Prevention Global, shares insights into the effective prevention of child sexual abuse, providing cutting-edge analyses of the opportunities and challenges.
The Center is also leading on the first ever surveys of child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence, with completed surveys in Tanzania and Germany and upcoming ones in Brazil and the United States. Visibility on the prevalence of perpetration paired with evidence-based solutions will leapfrog our efforts to prevent child sexual abuse worldwide.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence.
Grow the Shared Research Agenda for LMICs, now in its initial stages, into a strong, well-funded, innovative, and pioneering research collaborative (see SVRI’s summary report Collaborative Research Priority Setting: Bringing stakeholders together to end violence against children). This could include training of a more diverse generation of prevention-focused researchers, clearly signaling the field is becoming more inclusive and less high-income countries (HIC) dominated.
Test effective, low-cost and high-impact interventions in a range of additional settings, while also scaling them up in established contexts.
Develop research on combined interventions addressing multiple factors, identifying and evaluating such practice in a range of geographic contexts.
Build a strong, global consensus around definitions and metrics, leveraging recent work by UNICEF (international classification), Together for Girls (global prevalence data) and coalitions promoting Violence Against Youth and Children Surveys (VACS). This would facilitate cross-country studies and collaboration, which could be complemented by costing and cost-effectiveness data.
Use agreed definitions and measurements in VACS and other national surveys to generate reliable, comparable prevalence data for most countries in the world.
Establish dynamic, well-funded collaborative spaces, where researchers, practitioners, and policy makers work together to incubate new ideas, evaluate the impact of existing programs, learn from mistakes, and scale up promising interventions.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence.
Grow the Shared Research Agenda for LMICs, now in its initial stages, into a strong, well-funded, innovative, and pioneering research collaborative (see SVRI’s summary report Collaborative Research Priority Setting: Bringing stakeholders together to end violence against children). This could include training of a more diverse generation of prevention-focused researchers, clearly signaling the field is becoming more inclusive and less high-income countries (HIC) dominated.
Test effective, low-cost and high-impact interventions in a range of additional settings, while also scaling them up in established contexts.
Develop research on combined interventions addressing multiple factors, identifying and evaluating such practice in a range of geographic contexts.
Build a strong, global consensus around definitions and metrics, leveraging recent work by UNICEF (international classification), Together for Girls (global prevalence data) and coalitions promoting Violence Against Youth and Children Surveys (VACS). This would facilitate cross-country studies and collaboration, which could be complemented by costing and cost-effectiveness data.
Use agreed definitions and measurements in VACS and other national surveys to generate reliable, comparable prevalence data for most countries in the world.
Establish dynamic, well-funded collaborative spaces, where researchers, practitioners, and policy makers work together to incubate new ideas, evaluate the impact of existing programs, learn from mistakes, and scale up promising interventions.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence.
Grow the Shared Research Agenda for LMICs, now in its initial stages, into a strong, well-funded, innovative, and pioneering research collaborative (see SVRI’s summary report Collaborative Research Priority Setting: Bringing stakeholders together to end violence against children). This could include training of a more diverse generation of prevention-focused researchers, clearly signaling the field is becoming more inclusive and less high-income countries (HIC) dominated.
Test effective, low-cost and high-impact interventions in a range of additional settings, while also scaling them up in established contexts.
Develop research on combined interventions addressing multiple factors, identifying and evaluating such practice in a range of geographic contexts.
Build a strong, global consensus around definitions and metrics, leveraging recent work by UNICEF (international classification), Together for Girls (global prevalence data) and coalitions promoting Violence Against Youth and Children Surveys (VACS). This would facilitate cross-country studies and collaboration, which could be complemented by costing and cost-effectiveness data.
Use agreed definitions and measurements in VACS and other national surveys to generate reliable, comparable prevalence data for most countries in the world.
Establish dynamic, well-funded collaborative spaces, where researchers, practitioners, and policy makers work together to incubate new ideas, evaluate the impact of existing programs, learn from mistakes, and scale up promising interventions.
The next steps
Over the next five years, these shifts will help us strengthen the evidence base on childhood sexual violence.
Grow the Shared Research Agenda for LMICs, now in its initial stages, into a strong, well-funded, innovative, and pioneering research collaborative (see SVRI’s summary report Collaborative Research Priority Setting: Bringing stakeholders together to end violence against children). This could include training of a more diverse generation of prevention-focused researchers, clearly signaling the field is becoming more inclusive and less high-income countries (HIC) dominated.
Test effective, low-cost and high-impact interventions in a range of additional settings, while also scaling them up in established contexts.
Develop research on combined interventions addressing multiple factors, identifying and evaluating such practice in a range of geographic contexts.
Build a strong, global consensus around definitions and metrics, leveraging recent work by UNICEF (international classification), Together for Girls (global prevalence data) and coalitions promoting Violence Against Youth and Children Surveys (VACS). This would facilitate cross-country studies and collaboration, which could be complemented by costing and cost-effectiveness data.
Use agreed definitions and measurements in VACS and other national surveys to generate reliable, comparable prevalence data for most countries in the world.
Establish dynamic, well-funded collaborative spaces, where researchers, practitioners, and policy makers work together to incubate new ideas, evaluate the impact of existing programs, learn from mistakes, and scale up promising interventions.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction.
Evidence on interventions that work is one of the most powerful responses to the fatalism that leads to inaction.
8. Reshape the funding landscape for childhood sexual violence, including through stronger advocacy, greater ambition, wider distribution and more money
The challenge
Funding for ending childhood sexual violence is inadequate, short-term, and not fit for purpose. It’s primarily allocated on a project basis, leaving little funding for the essential yet broader systems change work that CSV prevention, justice, and eradication requires.
Domestic CSV spending is erratic and overly reliant on external assistance. It fails to fund CSV-related budget lines with poor implementation of national plans to prevent CSV. Even when budgets do include explicit funding for CSV prevention, implementation is erratic and not prioritized. International funding is in a worse and more tenuous state, with traditional funding patterns perpetuating unhelpful assumptions. Overseas development assistance (ODA) has also decreased over the last five years, with just ten donors accounting for 80 percent of the assistance available.
Other worrying funding trends include underfunding CSV prevention and competition for scarce resources, which hinders collaboration and reinforces resource-poor mind sets that limit ambition. There’s also a continued lack of consensus around the amount of funding needed to end CSV, and across the overall funding landscape.
It’s essential that we build a detailed picture of the current funding landscape (including domestic spending, development assistance, and philanthropy) to get a clearer picture of who is funding what, and where. A clearer sense of the total amount of funding required to end CSV is also critical to highlight the gap between what is needed and what is currently available.
Funding from private sources (including philanthropy) is difficult to track, but it’s the most promising source of funding for innovation, field building, and civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly for local, smaller groups. But it is not enough alone.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields such as LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Establishing a multi-faceted, more diverse funding environment would foster the innovative mindsets we need to find more effective prevention and response pathways.
The challenge
Funding for ending childhood sexual violence is inadequate, short-term, and not fit for purpose. It’s primarily allocated on a project basis, leaving little funding for the essential yet broader systems change work that CSV prevention, justice, and eradication requires.
Domestic CSV spending is erratic and overly reliant on external assistance. It fails to fund CSV-related budget lines with poor implementation of national plans to prevent CSV. Even when budgets do include explicit funding for CSV prevention, implementation is erratic and not prioritized. International funding is in a worse and more tenuous state, with traditional funding patterns perpetuating unhelpful assumptions. Overseas development assistance (ODA) has also decreased over the last five years, with just ten donors accounting for 80 percent of the assistance available.
Other worrying funding trends include underfunding CSV prevention and competition for scarce resources, which hinders collaboration and reinforces resource-poor mind sets that limit ambition. There’s also a continued lack of consensus around the amount of funding needed to end CSV, and across the overall funding landscape.
It’s essential that we build a detailed picture of the current funding landscape (including domestic spending, development assistance, and philanthropy) to get a clearer picture of who is funding what, and where. A clearer sense of the total amount of funding required to end CSV is also critical to highlight the gap between what is needed and what is currently available.
Funding from private sources (including philanthropy) is difficult to track, but it’s the most promising source of funding for innovation, field building, and civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly for local, smaller groups. But it is not enough alone.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields such as LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Establishing a multi-faceted, more diverse funding environment would foster the innovative mindsets we need to find more effective prevention and response pathways.
The challenge
Funding for ending childhood sexual violence is inadequate, short-term, and not fit for purpose. It’s primarily allocated on a project basis, leaving little funding for the essential yet broader systems change work that CSV prevention, justice, and eradication requires.
Domestic CSV spending is erratic and overly reliant on external assistance. It fails to fund CSV-related budget lines with poor implementation of national plans to prevent CSV. Even when budgets do include explicit funding for CSV prevention, implementation is erratic and not prioritized. International funding is in a worse and more tenuous state, with traditional funding patterns perpetuating unhelpful assumptions. Overseas development assistance (ODA) has also decreased over the last five years, with just ten donors accounting for 80 percent of the assistance available.
Other worrying funding trends include underfunding CSV prevention and competition for scarce resources, which hinders collaboration and reinforces resource-poor mind sets that limit ambition. There’s also a continued lack of consensus around the amount of funding needed to end CSV, and across the overall funding landscape.
It’s essential that we build a detailed picture of the current funding landscape (including domestic spending, development assistance, and philanthropy) to get a clearer picture of who is funding what, and where. A clearer sense of the total amount of funding required to end CSV is also critical to highlight the gap between what is needed and what is currently available.
Funding from private sources (including philanthropy) is difficult to track, but it’s the most promising source of funding for innovation, field building, and civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly for local, smaller groups. But it is not enough alone.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields such as LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Establishing a multi-faceted, more diverse funding environment would foster the innovative mindsets we need to find more effective prevention and response pathways.
The challenge
Funding for ending childhood sexual violence is inadequate, short-term, and not fit for purpose. It’s primarily allocated on a project basis, leaving little funding for the essential yet broader systems change work that CSV prevention, justice, and eradication requires.
Domestic CSV spending is erratic and overly reliant on external assistance. It fails to fund CSV-related budget lines with poor implementation of national plans to prevent CSV. Even when budgets do include explicit funding for CSV prevention, implementation is erratic and not prioritized. International funding is in a worse and more tenuous state, with traditional funding patterns perpetuating unhelpful assumptions. Overseas development assistance (ODA) has also decreased over the last five years, with just ten donors accounting for 80 percent of the assistance available.
Other worrying funding trends include underfunding CSV prevention and competition for scarce resources, which hinders collaboration and reinforces resource-poor mind sets that limit ambition. There’s also a continued lack of consensus around the amount of funding needed to end CSV, and across the overall funding landscape.
It’s essential that we build a detailed picture of the current funding landscape (including domestic spending, development assistance, and philanthropy) to get a clearer picture of who is funding what, and where. A clearer sense of the total amount of funding required to end CSV is also critical to highlight the gap between what is needed and what is currently available.
Funding from private sources (including philanthropy) is difficult to track, but it’s the most promising source of funding for innovation, field building, and civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly for local, smaller groups. But it is not enough alone.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields such as LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Establishing a multi-faceted, more diverse funding environment would foster the innovative mindsets we need to find more effective prevention and response pathways.
Where we can make a difference
Ideally, the future funding landscape would comprise a range of issues and types of funding, such as those to support and scale existing organizations and initiatives and those to help establish start-ups and innovation-focused operations. There should also be a dynamic affinity group that both supports current funders and attracts new ones, and multiple pooled funds.
Achieving a more robust, diverse, and reliable funding landscape, with domestic, international and philanthropic streams of support, will be transformative for a number of reasons. It will help ensure that national plans and programs are fully funded, increase spending on prevention efforts and stimulate investment in innovation. Change could also generate more unrestricted, flexible funding and ensure that resources reach leaders, and organizations in LMICs.
Where we can make a difference
Ideally, the future funding landscape would comprise a range of issues and types of funding, such as those to support and scale existing organizations and initiatives and those to help establish start-ups and innovation-focused operations. There should also be a dynamic affinity group that both supports current funders and attracts new ones, and multiple pooled funds.
Achieving a more robust, diverse, and reliable funding landscape, with domestic, international and philanthropic streams of support, will be transformative for a number of reasons. It will help ensure that national plans and programs are fully funded, increase spending on prevention efforts and stimulate investment in innovation. Change could also generate more unrestricted, flexible funding and ensure that resources reach leaders, and organizations in LMICs.
Where we can make a difference
Ideally, the future funding landscape would comprise a range of issues and types of funding, such as those to support and scale existing organizations and initiatives and those to help establish start-ups and innovation-focused operations. There should also be a dynamic affinity group that both supports current funders and attracts new ones, and multiple pooled funds.
Achieving a more robust, diverse, and reliable funding landscape, with domestic, international and philanthropic streams of support, will be transformative for a number of reasons. It will help ensure that national plans and programs are fully funded, increase spending on prevention efforts and stimulate investment in innovation. Change could also generate more unrestricted, flexible funding and ensure that resources reach leaders, and organizations in LMICs.
Where we can make a difference
Ideally, the future funding landscape would comprise a range of issues and types of funding, such as those to support and scale existing organizations and initiatives and those to help establish start-ups and innovation-focused operations. There should also be a dynamic affinity group that both supports current funders and attracts new ones, and multiple pooled funds.
Achieving a more robust, diverse, and reliable funding landscape, with domestic, international and philanthropic streams of support, will be transformative for a number of reasons. It will help ensure that national plans and programs are fully funded, increase spending on prevention efforts and stimulate investment in innovation. Change could also generate more unrestricted, flexible funding and ensure that resources reach leaders, and organizations in LMICs.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape the funding landscape.
Hope-based narratives about CSV are inspiring donor confidence, pushing back on fatalism and generating both energy and resources.
There is increasing evidence on strategies and interventions that work to prevent and respond to CSV, with further, promising areas of research ready and waiting for funding.
There is a growing number of civil society coalitions that are increasing the efficiency and capacity of stakeholders working to end CSV. There is also potential to integrate CSV prevention efforts into other, better funded sectors like education and health.
Network-led movements and survivor-led groups are growing, giving them capacity to use more funding.
New sources of funding are emerging, including:
remittances from diaspora;
high-net worth individuals who want to support innovation (regardless of the issue) and/or with CSV-related issues, often outside the framework of formal foundations;
private sector entities looking to increase their social responsibility and community engagement funding; and
crowd-sourcing platforms.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape the funding landscape.
Hope-based narratives about CSV are inspiring donor confidence, pushing back on fatalism and generating both energy and resources.
There is increasing evidence on strategies and interventions that work to prevent and respond to CSV, with further, promising areas of research ready and waiting for funding.
There is a growing number of civil society coalitions that are increasing the efficiency and capacity of stakeholders working to end CSV. There is also potential to integrate CSV prevention efforts into other, better funded sectors like education and health.
Network-led movements and survivor-led groups are growing, giving them capacity to use more funding.
New sources of funding are emerging, including:
remittances from diaspora;
high-net worth individuals who want to support innovation (regardless of the issue) and/or with CSV-related issues, often outside the framework of formal foundations;
private sector entities looking to increase their social responsibility and community engagement funding; and
crowd-sourcing platforms.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape the funding landscape.
Hope-based narratives about CSV are inspiring donor confidence, pushing back on fatalism and generating both energy and resources.
There is increasing evidence on strategies and interventions that work to prevent and respond to CSV, with further, promising areas of research ready and waiting for funding.
There is a growing number of civil society coalitions that are increasing the efficiency and capacity of stakeholders working to end CSV. There is also potential to integrate CSV prevention efforts into other, better funded sectors like education and health.
Network-led movements and survivor-led groups are growing, giving them capacity to use more funding.
New sources of funding are emerging, including:
remittances from diaspora;
high-net worth individuals who want to support innovation (regardless of the issue) and/or with CSV-related issues, often outside the framework of formal foundations;
private sector entities looking to increase their social responsibility and community engagement funding; and
crowd-sourcing platforms.
Opportunities
There is momentum to reshape the funding landscape.
Hope-based narratives about CSV are inspiring donor confidence, pushing back on fatalism and generating both energy and resources.
There is increasing evidence on strategies and interventions that work to prevent and respond to CSV, with further, promising areas of research ready and waiting for funding.
There is a growing number of civil society coalitions that are increasing the efficiency and capacity of stakeholders working to end CSV. There is also potential to integrate CSV prevention efforts into other, better funded sectors like education and health.
Network-led movements and survivor-led groups are growing, giving them capacity to use more funding.
New sources of funding are emerging, including:
remittances from diaspora;
high-net worth individuals who want to support innovation (regardless of the issue) and/or with CSV-related issues, often outside the framework of formal foundations;
private sector entities looking to increase their social responsibility and community engagement funding; and
crowd-sourcing platforms.
“We need clear responsibilities and budget allocations. Goodwill on paper is not enough; we need tangible support from the government, including resources dedicated to addressing these issues.” - Hope Wambi, Raising Voices
“We need clear responsibilities and budget allocations. Goodwill on paper is not enough; we need tangible support from the government, including resources dedicated to addressing these issues.” - Hope Wambi, Raising Voices
“We need clear responsibilities and budget allocations. Goodwill on paper is not enough; we need tangible support from the government, including resources dedicated to addressing these issues.” - Hope Wambi, Raising Voices
“We need clear responsibilities and budget allocations. Goodwill on paper is not enough; we need tangible support from the government, including resources dedicated to addressing these issues.” - Hope Wambi, Raising Voices
Real world example
In Tanzania, a digital app-based training program for caregivers and their adolescents has shown 37% reductions in sexual violence victimization. Led by the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, University of Cape Town and Oxford University, the app helps parents manage stress, keep their teens safe; engage in difficult conversations and other topics, paired with a WhatsApp group where parents can connect with one another for support and advice. This powerful data paired with the efforts of civil society and bilateral organizations has led the government of Tanzania to pledge USD 100 million to support the implementation of positive parenting interventions in the country.
Real world example
In Tanzania, a digital app-based training program for caregivers and their adolescents has shown 37% reductions in sexual violence victimization. Led by the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, University of Cape Town and Oxford University, the app helps parents manage stress, keep their teens safe; engage in difficult conversations and other topics, paired with a WhatsApp group where parents can connect with one another for support and advice. This powerful data paired with the efforts of civil society and bilateral organizations has led the government of Tanzania to pledge USD 100 million to support the implementation of positive parenting interventions in the country.
Real world example
In Tanzania, a digital app-based training program for caregivers and their adolescents has shown 37% reductions in sexual violence victimization. Led by the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, University of Cape Town and Oxford University, the app helps parents manage stress, keep their teens safe; engage in difficult conversations and other topics, paired with a WhatsApp group where parents can connect with one another for support and advice. This powerful data paired with the efforts of civil society and bilateral organizations has led the government of Tanzania to pledge USD 100 million to support the implementation of positive parenting interventions in the country.
Real world example
In Tanzania, a digital app-based training program for caregivers and their adolescents has shown 37% reductions in sexual violence victimization. Led by the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, University of Cape Town and Oxford University, the app helps parents manage stress, keep their teens safe; engage in difficult conversations and other topics, paired with a WhatsApp group where parents can connect with one another for support and advice. This powerful data paired with the efforts of civil society and bilateral organizations has led the government of Tanzania to pledge USD 100 million to support the implementation of positive parenting interventions in the country.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform how we fund action to end CSV.
Implement significantly stronger mechanisms to track public and private funding for CSV prevention and responses, and ensure they are more widely used.
Build a more robust funding landscape, with greater accountability and coordination among funders, to increase funding for existing programs and organizations as well as for grassroots groups, innovation, and research.
Support CSOs to become effective advocates for domestic and Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, including planning for scale.
Establish regionally managed funds for supporting activism, including from survivor leaders and survivor-led organizations, in all regions.
Achieve a better balance between prevention and response effort funding, driven by more evidence and stronger investment cases around preventative interventions.
Significantly strengthen funding to transform strategic advocacy and communications, campaigning, and movement building.
Call for national governments to increase their commitment and funding to end CSV, ensuring fully funded and implemented national plans/programs exist in almost all countries.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform how we fund action to end CSV.
Implement significantly stronger mechanisms to track public and private funding for CSV prevention and responses, and ensure they are more widely used.
Build a more robust funding landscape, with greater accountability and coordination among funders, to increase funding for existing programs and organizations as well as for grassroots groups, innovation, and research.
Support CSOs to become effective advocates for domestic and Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, including planning for scale.
Establish regionally managed funds for supporting activism, including from survivor leaders and survivor-led organizations, in all regions.
Achieve a better balance between prevention and response effort funding, driven by more evidence and stronger investment cases around preventative interventions.
Significantly strengthen funding to transform strategic advocacy and communications, campaigning, and movement building.
Call for national governments to increase their commitment and funding to end CSV, ensuring fully funded and implemented national plans/programs exist in almost all countries.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform how we fund action to end CSV.
Implement significantly stronger mechanisms to track public and private funding for CSV prevention and responses, and ensure they are more widely used.
Build a more robust funding landscape, with greater accountability and coordination among funders, to increase funding for existing programs and organizations as well as for grassroots groups, innovation, and research.
Support CSOs to become effective advocates for domestic and Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, including planning for scale.
Establish regionally managed funds for supporting activism, including from survivor leaders and survivor-led organizations, in all regions.
Achieve a better balance between prevention and response effort funding, driven by more evidence and stronger investment cases around preventative interventions.
Significantly strengthen funding to transform strategic advocacy and communications, campaigning, and movement building.
Call for national governments to increase their commitment and funding to end CSV, ensuring fully funded and implemented national plans/programs exist in almost all countries.
The next steps
During the next five years, these shifts have the power to transform how we fund action to end CSV.
Implement significantly stronger mechanisms to track public and private funding for CSV prevention and responses, and ensure they are more widely used.
Build a more robust funding landscape, with greater accountability and coordination among funders, to increase funding for existing programs and organizations as well as for grassroots groups, innovation, and research.
Support CSOs to become effective advocates for domestic and Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, including planning for scale.
Establish regionally managed funds for supporting activism, including from survivor leaders and survivor-led organizations, in all regions.
Achieve a better balance between prevention and response effort funding, driven by more evidence and stronger investment cases around preventative interventions.
Significantly strengthen funding to transform strategic advocacy and communications, campaigning, and movement building.
Call for national governments to increase their commitment and funding to end CSV, ensuring fully funded and implemented national plans/programs exist in almost all countries.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields.
A key problem is the lack of a well-rounded, robust funding landscape around CSV, as we see in adjacent human rights fields.
A call to action
Ending CSV faster is not a simple task, but it is an achievable one. A shared vision for the field is a vital step towards overcoming the global nature and complexity of this challenge. It encourages the sector as a whole to address the lack of resourcing and make sure that short-term responses do not exclude work to address root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can potentially achieve by working together more coherently to advance change and to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
There are significant reasons to be hopeful. There is a growing body of evidence for actions that have had positive results, driven by the courage and determination of the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to create lasting change.
The evidence shows us what works and therefore has the potential to scale. While we don't know all the answers yet, the sector is ready to align their actions and collaborate to achieve a common aspiration. This way, we can address this issue at all levels, in all cultures and in all places.
We have a great opportunity to make the world a more positive place – not just for children today but for future generations. The conversations at the heart of this report have repeatedly highlighted that “the tectonic plates are shifting”. CSV, and all forms of violence against children, is finding its place on the global agenda. This is thanks to the work of a diverse community of pioneering practitioners, brave activists, campaigners, engaged academics, concerned politicians and public officials, dogged investigators, entrepreneurs and innovators, and a growing group of vanguard donors.
A call to action
Ending CSV faster is not a simple task, but it is an achievable one. A shared vision for the field is a vital step towards overcoming the global nature and complexity of this challenge. It encourages the sector as a whole to address the lack of resourcing and make sure that short-term responses do not exclude work to address root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can potentially achieve by working together more coherently to advance change and to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
There are significant reasons to be hopeful. There is a growing body of evidence for actions that have had positive results, driven by the courage and determination of the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to create lasting change.
The evidence shows us what works and therefore has the potential to scale. While we don't know all the answers yet, the sector is ready to align their actions and collaborate to achieve a common aspiration. This way, we can address this issue at all levels, in all cultures and in all places.
We have a great opportunity to make the world a more positive place – not just for children today but for future generations. The conversations at the heart of this report have repeatedly highlighted that “the tectonic plates are shifting”. CSV, and all forms of violence against children, is finding its place on the global agenda. This is thanks to the work of a diverse community of pioneering practitioners, brave activists, campaigners, engaged academics, concerned politicians and public officials, dogged investigators, entrepreneurs and innovators, and a growing group of vanguard donors.
A call to action
Ending CSV faster is not a simple task, but it is an achievable one. A shared vision for the field is a vital step towards overcoming the global nature and complexity of this challenge. It encourages the sector as a whole to address the lack of resourcing and make sure that short-term responses do not exclude work to address root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can potentially achieve by working together more coherently to advance change and to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
There are significant reasons to be hopeful. There is a growing body of evidence for actions that have had positive results, driven by the courage and determination of the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to create lasting change.
The evidence shows us what works and therefore has the potential to scale. While we don't know all the answers yet, the sector is ready to align their actions and collaborate to achieve a common aspiration. This way, we can address this issue at all levels, in all cultures and in all places.
We have a great opportunity to make the world a more positive place – not just for children today but for future generations. The conversations at the heart of this report have repeatedly highlighted that “the tectonic plates are shifting”. CSV, and all forms of violence against children, is finding its place on the global agenda. This is thanks to the work of a diverse community of pioneering practitioners, brave activists, campaigners, engaged academics, concerned politicians and public officials, dogged investigators, entrepreneurs and innovators, and a growing group of vanguard donors.
A call to action
Ending CSV faster is not a simple task, but it is an achievable one. A shared vision for the field is a vital step towards overcoming the global nature and complexity of this challenge. It encourages the sector as a whole to address the lack of resourcing and make sure that short-term responses do not exclude work to address root causes. Most importantly, this vision shows what we can potentially achieve by working together more coherently to advance change and to combat the cultural taboos that keep this issue in the shadows.
There are significant reasons to be hopeful. There is a growing body of evidence for actions that have had positive results, driven by the courage and determination of the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to create lasting change.
The evidence shows us what works and therefore has the potential to scale. While we don't know all the answers yet, the sector is ready to align their actions and collaborate to achieve a common aspiration. This way, we can address this issue at all levels, in all cultures and in all places.
We have a great opportunity to make the world a more positive place – not just for children today but for future generations. The conversations at the heart of this report have repeatedly highlighted that “the tectonic plates are shifting”. CSV, and all forms of violence against children, is finding its place on the global agenda. This is thanks to the work of a diverse community of pioneering practitioners, brave activists, campaigners, engaged academics, concerned politicians and public officials, dogged investigators, entrepreneurs and innovators, and a growing group of vanguard donors.
We know what our destination looks like
CSV is preventable. Working together is the only way to make sure the whole sector is effectively resourced, informed and supported.
Part of the work of To Zero has been to provide time and space to explore the human, cultural and structural underpinnings of CSV, including wider systemic relationships, to address root causes.
This report presents a map of the landscape and a shared direction of travel. It also shows pathways that, pursued together or separately, offer practical steps to accelerate progress that we believe should be prioritized going forward.
As a field, the message is to remain focused on:
Galvanizing around six critical themes for long term impact - Alignment and Resourcing, Shifts in Social Norms, Safe Digital Spaces, Political Will, Evidence, Accountability (see here)
Accelerating progress on these six critical themes - by pursuing proposed action accelerators (see here) that have the potential for transformative change in the next five years
Continuing to - scale what works and explore what could; Strengthen the field; Shift the landscape with campaigns and communications that are informed by evidence and grounded in hope.
We know what our destination looks like
CSV is preventable. Working together is the only way to make sure the whole sector is effectively resourced, informed and supported.
Part of the work of To Zero has been to provide time and space to explore the human, cultural and structural underpinnings of CSV, including wider systemic relationships, to address root causes.
This report presents a map of the landscape and a shared direction of travel. It also shows pathways that, pursued together or separately, offer practical steps to accelerate progress that we believe should be prioritized going forward.
As a field, the message is to remain focused on:
Galvanizing around six critical themes for long term impact - Alignment and Resourcing, Shifts in Social Norms, Safe Digital Spaces, Political Will, Evidence, Accountability (see here)
Accelerating progress on these six critical themes - by pursuing proposed action accelerators (see here) that have the potential for transformative change in the next five years
Continuing to - scale what works and explore what could; Strengthen the field; Shift the landscape with campaigns and communications that are informed by evidence and grounded in hope.
We know what our destination looks like
CSV is preventable. Working together is the only way to make sure the whole sector is effectively resourced, informed and supported.
Part of the work of To Zero has been to provide time and space to explore the human, cultural and structural underpinnings of CSV, including wider systemic relationships, to address root causes.
This report presents a map of the landscape and a shared direction of travel. It also shows pathways that, pursued together or separately, offer practical steps to accelerate progress that we believe should be prioritized going forward.
As a field, the message is to remain focused on:
Galvanizing around six critical themes for long term impact - Alignment and Resourcing, Shifts in Social Norms, Safe Digital Spaces, Political Will, Evidence, Accountability (see here)
Accelerating progress on these six critical themes - by pursuing proposed action accelerators (see here) that have the potential for transformative change in the next five years
Continuing to - scale what works and explore what could; Strengthen the field; Shift the landscape with campaigns and communications that are informed by evidence and grounded in hope.
We know what our destination looks like
CSV is preventable. Working together is the only way to make sure the whole sector is effectively resourced, informed and supported.
Part of the work of To Zero has been to provide time and space to explore the human, cultural and structural underpinnings of CSV, including wider systemic relationships, to address root causes.
This report presents a map of the landscape and a shared direction of travel. It also shows pathways that, pursued together or separately, offer practical steps to accelerate progress that we believe should be prioritized going forward.
As a field, the message is to remain focused on:
Galvanizing around six critical themes for long term impact - Alignment and Resourcing, Shifts in Social Norms, Safe Digital Spaces, Political Will, Evidence, Accountability (see here)
Accelerating progress on these six critical themes - by pursuing proposed action accelerators (see here) that have the potential for transformative change in the next five years
Continuing to - scale what works and explore what could; Strengthen the field; Shift the landscape with campaigns and communications that are informed by evidence and grounded in hope.
The To Zero commitment
A vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What is needed now is commitment.
It is clear that civil society stakeholders cannot end childhood sexual violence without support. Progress will need commitment from other powerful actors who can play a pivotal role, both in terms of their own actions and in encouraging and supporting others.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
Media and other stakeholders need to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice.
And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts. We will continue to work in two key areas:
strengthening relationships among actors in the field; and
fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
The To Zero commitment
A vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What is needed now is commitment.
It is clear that civil society stakeholders cannot end childhood sexual violence without support. Progress will need commitment from other powerful actors who can play a pivotal role, both in terms of their own actions and in encouraging and supporting others.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
Media and other stakeholders need to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice.
And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts. We will continue to work in two key areas:
strengthening relationships among actors in the field; and
fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
The To Zero commitment
A vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What is needed now is commitment.
It is clear that civil society stakeholders cannot end childhood sexual violence without support. Progress will need commitment from other powerful actors who can play a pivotal role, both in terms of their own actions and in encouraging and supporting others.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
Media and other stakeholders need to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice.
And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts. We will continue to work in two key areas:
strengthening relationships among actors in the field; and
fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
The To Zero commitment
A vision and a roadmap on their own won’t change the landscape. What is needed now is commitment.
It is clear that civil society stakeholders cannot end childhood sexual violence without support. Progress will need commitment from other powerful actors who can play a pivotal role, both in terms of their own actions and in encouraging and supporting others.
Government at all levels must do all it can to protect communities. Public and private institutions also have a role to play – particularly in the technology sector, which holds real power in child and adolescent lives. Additionally, private donors will be a critical source of catalytic funding needed to build the field and accelerate change.
Media and other stakeholders need to keep spreading awareness of both the scale of the challenge and the amazing work happening right now to address it. They will be pivotal to helping the broader community shape the public narrative and accelerate the discovery of good practice.
And although To Zero is designed as a timebound initiative, we are committed to playing our part in long-term shifts. We will continue to work in two key areas:
strengthening relationships among actors in the field; and
fostering powerful communication, storytelling and on-going learning.
This is our moment
We don’t want this report to sit on the shelf gathering dust. We will keep channels open for follow-up communication and learning. We will also provide opportunities within the year to check in on the progress of this initiative as well as the work of our Champions Group and wider Visioning Group.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
This is our moment
We don’t want this report to sit on the shelf gathering dust. We will keep channels open for follow-up communication and learning. We will also provide opportunities within the year to check in on the progress of this initiative as well as the work of our Champions Group and wider Visioning Group.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
This is our moment
We don’t want this report to sit on the shelf gathering dust. We will keep channels open for follow-up communication and learning. We will also provide opportunities within the year to check in on the progress of this initiative as well as the work of our Champions Group and wider Visioning Group.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.
This is our moment
We don’t want this report to sit on the shelf gathering dust. We will keep channels open for follow-up communication and learning. We will also provide opportunities within the year to check in on the progress of this initiative as well as the work of our Champions Group and wider Visioning Group.
Join us. Together, we can make our world a safer, more joyful place for children.