What will it take to prevent child sexual abuse perpetration worldwide?
The Prevention Global Deep Dive Series explores the nature of, and potential and challenges inherent in, perpetration prevention. Our first knowledge product explores a key issue at the heart of effective perpetration prevention – SCALABILITY.
The majority of contact abuse is committed by other children – as high as 70% . Online, this figure remains extremely significant – upwards of 30% .
READ THE FULL SCALABILITY REPORT
Scaling prevention through better understanding
We know that child sexual abuse is preventable. And yet it remains a huge – but solvable – global problem. 1 in 9 children suffer abuse across the world*. That’s 220 million. Close to the total population of Nigeria.
The majority of abuse is committed by people known to the child*. The majority of contact abuse is committed by other children – as high as 70%*. Online, this figure remains extremely significant – upwards of 30%*. And when adults abuse, sexual interest in children is the main motivation only about half the time*.
So, how can we tackle such a big and complex problem? A deep understanding of risk for perpetration provides the best chance of preventing abuse before it happens.
We need to know on which risk factors to intervene. We need to assess the best ways to prevent abuse, at scale. And we need to act with speed.
Our scalability study has provided over 20 findings and recommendations that inform a series of key questions. We are not doing enough, and the potential to transform the impact of perpetration prevention is vast.
WATCH THE SCALABILITY ANIMATION
Scaling prevention through better know-how
As a community we don’t know enough about what works to prevent child sexual abuse, at scale. At Prevention Global, our mission is to produce deep and rigorous insights to support effective prevention. We partnered with scalability experts MSI to assess 13 programs that aim to prevent child sexual abuse perpetration. These programs are in schools, in clinics, or online. They target children or adults. They include educator-led sessions, self-help sessions, and/or therapist-supported sessions.
Our scalability study has provided over 20 findings and recommendations that inform a series of key questions: What works and what needs work to effectively prevent perpetration? How can we scale effective programs to reach more at-risk individuals, families, and communities? What does better local, national, and international policy look like? And how can we fund more smartly?
So, what did we find? The short answer is, a lot. However, a number of key insights emerged that present a direct challenge to leaders in policy, practice, and funding. We are not doing enough, and the potential to transform the impact of perpetration prevention is vast.
We need to unite to stigmatise child sexual abuse perpetration. But we also need to remove the barriers of stigma to survivor disclosure, specialist training, help-seeking, and public and political discourse.
DOWNLOAD THE SCALABILITY BRIEF
Scaling prevention through untapped potential
We need to focus on youth.
For many types of abuse, a majority is committed against children by other children. Unfortunately, we face a chronic shortage of youth-focused programs designed to prevent the onset of problem sexual behavior. To prevent at scale, we need to address the root causes of this phenomenon, including ignorance and impulsivity. And we need to unlock the untapped potential to scale quickly through existing education systems and social institutions – like sport clubs and religious organisations.
We need to explore the potential to commercialize prevention.
There’s a clear commercial case for scaling prevention. For educational and other youth-serving organizations, instances of abuse incur reputational and commercial liabilities. For insurers, educational and organization clients with insufficient safeguarding bring enormous financial exposure. To prevent at scale, we need prevention to become an integral part of the cost of doing business.
We need to break the stigma barrier.
Stigma is nuanced. It stifles the voices of courageous survivors. It deters treatment providers from specialising in child sexual abuse. It curtails political courage and ambition to support prevention.
It is a barrier to children and adults seeking help for concerns about their sexual thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. To prevent at scale, we need to unite to stigmatise child sexual abuse perpetration. But we also need to remove the barriers of stigma to survivor disclosure, specialist training, help-seeking, and public and political discourse.
The prevention of sexual abuse is not a child’s responsibility. It is our responsibility to urgently mobilise a comprehensive approach to prevention that tackles the root causes of perpetration.
VIEW THE SCALABILITY INFOGRAPHIC
Leave no stone unturned
Addressing child sexual abuse perpetration is one of the most difficult challenges we face in society. It forces us to confront myriad aspects of the human condition that are deeply uncomfortable. However, we can’t afford to look away. In the prevention of child sexual abuse, we can leave no stone unturned. The prevention of sexual abuse is not a child’s responsibility. It is our responsibility to urgently mobilise a comprehensive approach to prevention that tackles the root causes of perpetration.
Want to know more? Explore our Scalability Deep Dive in full HERE.
*
Stoltenborgh M, van Ijzendoorn MH, Euser EM, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. A global perspective on child sexual abuse: meta-analysis of prevalence around the world. (2011)
UNICEF Innocenti, INTERPOL, ECPAT: Disrupting Harm (2022)
Finkelhor D. Trends in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the United States. (2020)
UNICEF Innocenti, INTERPOL, ECPAT: Disrupting Harm (2022)
Seto, M. C. Pedophilia and sexual offending
against children. (2018)
