PRESS RELEASE
Helsinki - 14 November - 22,285 survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation in 108 countries have shared their stories and insights in a global effort to raise awareness about the realities of sexual violence against children, the challenges of disclosure and recovery, and the enduring impact on their lives. Their voices, collected through the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey available in 29 languages, will be amplified through a new report on 18 November, the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence, by Finnish child-rights NGO Protect Children.
Survivors share their experiences of abuse that often began at an early age, most often between 3-9 years old. Alarmingly, in 9 out of 10 cases the abuse involved someone they knew and trusted, such as a family member or someone from their immediate social circle. For nearly 40% of survivors, the abuse was not an isolated event but occurred repeatedly, leading to severe and long-lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts.
Survivors around the world have come forward to share their journeys, many for the first time, to break the silence and call for societal change. “I am grateful and, to my surprise, moved. Someone wants to know how I survived all this. Someone wants to know how I'm doing with it, even though it's been almost 20 years.” shares one survivor.
The journey of healing is challenging for many survivors, who often feel isolated in their trauma. “I didn't speak until I was 5 years old, I had difficulty socializing at school, I was isolated at home,” shared one respondent to the survey, describing how early abuse disrupted social development and led to lasting effects on self-esteem and relationships.
“Many survivors feel they haven’t ‘survived the right way’ when they see others advocating publicly, appearing well, and succeeding in many areas of their life” reflects the Executive Director of Protect Children, Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, who has vast experience working as a psychotherapist with survivors of childhood sexual violence. “I’ve learned invaluable lessons about the hard work it takes to cope with severe trauma. We must honour that simply being here is enough.”
The report exposes a deeply concerning lack of response to child sexual abuse disclosures: 91% of survivors reported that, even after coming forward, they received inadequate support, and no police investigation took place. A striking 84% of survivors report enduring profound and long-lasting impacts stemming from the abuse they experienced, including depression, difficulty in forming and maintaining personal relationships, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, sexual dysfunction, somatic symptoms, insomnia, frequent and severe headaches, and stomach aches.
On 18 November, the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence, Protect Children stands with victims, survivors, families, and all those affected by child sexual abuse to raise awareness and call for widespread action. “The stories shared in this report are invaluable in helping us understand how to support those impacted and how to prevent future abuse. While we cannot undo the harm that has been done, we are dedicated to building a world where children are safe and their rights are upheld, and survivors find the support they deserve.” says Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Specialist at Protect Children, who led the writing of the report.
Together, the survivors’ voices form a call to action, urging communities, policymakers, and societies worldwide to recognise their pain and resilience and to join in the mission to end child sexual abuse.
About Protect Children: Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry. is the only organisation in Finland dedicated to ending all forms of sexual violence against children https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en
About the funder: The Justice Initiative is a European initiative aiming to restore justice for past victims of abuse across Europe and strengthen child protection for future generations. Protect Children, the leader of the Justice Initiative Nordic Hub, developed the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey with support from the Justice Initiative. Learn more about the Justice Initiative: justice-initiative.eu
For more information, please contact:
Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Specialist at Protect Children (interviews in English and Spanish)
eva.diaz.bethencourt@suojellaanlapsia.fi +358 40 084 7607
Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Executive Director at Protect Children (interviews in English and Finnish) nina.vaaranen-valkonen@suojellaanlapsia.fi +358 40 747 8829