STATEMENT
This Statement, written by Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry. (Protect Children), aims to inform the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children’s forthcoming report to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in October 2024. This report answers the call for input as set out by the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children.
The Statement examines the alarming escalation of child sexual abuse and exploitation in the digital environment. In order to do so, this statement outlines practices of sexual violence against children within the online environments, on the one hand; and provides practical solutions in reference to the questions posed in the Special Rapporteur’s call for input, on the other hand.
The ultimate goal of this statement is to highlight the need to develop more effective prevention and intervention strategies, as well as to advocate for the immediate development of robust and comprehensive regulations that strengthen children’s rights and ensure their protection from harm across all environments, including the digital sphere.
Protect Children
Protect Children is a non-governmental child-rights organisation based in Finland, working globally to end all forms of sexual violence against children. We adopt a holistic, research-based approach to address the issue from multiple angles, advocating for victims, survivors, and families; equipping children and young people with essential skills and knowledge to stay safe online and offline; developing offender-focused prevention measures; and conducting innovative research to better understand the issue.
Learn more about Protect Children: www.protectchildren.fi/en