Earlier this month, the UN General Assembly officially designated November 18 as World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence – or #Nov18WorldDay. November 18 has also been recognised by the Council of Europe as European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse since 2015. This day is an opportunity to increase awareness and push for essential global action to address the magnitude of childhood sexual violence. The day is also used to stress the need for prevention, for holding perpetrators accountable, and for victims' voices to be amplified.
Sexual violence against children is an urgent public health issue
Children all around the world face the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation. In the EU, it is estimated that 1 in 5 children will experience some form of sexual violence during their childhood. Sexual violence is a serious violation of children’s rights and has long lasting and often detrimental consequences for their entire life. Sexual violence is increasingly occurring online, for example through the dissemination of child sexual abuse material, sexual extortion, grooming, and trafficking. This is making it easier for perpetrators to commit crimes against more children, and more difficult to bring perpetrators to justice.
As a global community, we all have a responsibility to prevent violence against children, in order to allow children to grow up and thrive in a non-violent environment.
We are calling for immediate global action
1. Urging the G7 leaders to turn their commitments into bold and transformative action
Protect Children has signed a petition launched by the Brave Movement, a group of survivors of childhood sexual violence, asking leaders of the G7 countries to take bold action to end childhood sexual violence, so that what happened to them never happens to another child.
2. Letter to the EU: "We must make the Internet a Safe Place for Children"
Protect Children signed an open letter to the European Union calling for stronger measures to make the internet a safe place for children. Protect Children signed the letter as a member of the EU Child Sexual Abuse Legislation Advocacy Group (ECLAG) with Missing Children Europe, Terre des Hommes, Thorn, Internet Watch Foundation, and ECPAT International.
3. We are raising awareness of the magnitude of the problem
We want everyone around the world to understand the gravity of sexual violence against children, and the urgency to act now. We are sharing information about the issue on social media, in order to raise awareness and encourage people to join in the fight against childhood sexual violence.
Watch our video below: