Protect Children

🗣 Over 22,000 Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Shared Their Voices and Wisdom Through the Global #OurVoice Survivor Survey! 🗨️ “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.” 🔎 Our new report presents invaluable findings about survivors, perpetrators, characteristics of sexual violence, disclosure, long-term consequences of the abuse, healing and recovery.  🙌 The report is a testament to the importance of listening to survivors, as we strive to create a world where children are protected and survivors can access meaningful support and have their rights upheld. 🔗 Link to the full report available in the comments below. Supported by #JusticeInitiative

📢 Help us collect more responses to the survey for health and prevention professionals. 🔎💻 The EU-funded 2PS Project is collecting insights about reporting and discretion exercised by professionals when working with people who have a sexual interest in children or are at risk of offending against children. 👉 The results will be used to raise awareness about preventive actions and increase access to help services. 🔔 Your participation will provide valuable insights into reporting requirements and professional discretion in your country. 🔗 Take part in the survey here: https://lnkd.in/dBtsGGsw Sparks in the Dark

🔔 1 in 25 children experience #siblingsexualabuse or #siblingsexualtrauma and 9 in 10 survivors do not disclose the abuse till adulthood – if ever.   🗨 Affected children and caregivers report experiencing long-term negative consequences that influence the whole family. Identifying and responding to sibling sexual trauma and abuse may be challenging for caregivers and even professionals.  🌊 Protect Children has translated educational leaflets (produced by 5WAVESorg) that provide general information and guidance for caregivers, educators, and professionals working in the field on responding to sibling sexual trauma.   🔗Available on our website (EN, ES, FI, SV): link in the comments.

🎬 Our Senior Specialist Katariina Leivo took part in the 4th edition of The Hague Human Rights Film Festival 2024.   ⚖️ This year’s theme, "Children’s Rights", brought attention to issues that affect children all around the world, such as the impacts of war and violence and challenges in education, nutrition and safety. 💔 The festival’s line up featured heartbreaking documentaries such as Hunger Ward and Children of War, which highlighted the harsh realities that children in conflict areas suffer and the increased risk of human rights violations for children living in more vulnerable situations. 💡 Katariina was part of a powerful panel discussion where she highlighted the dangers children encounter in online environments and emphasised the responsibility of adults to protect children’s safety and uphold children's rights also in the digital space. 🗨️ “The documentaries were a powerful reminder of the violation of children's rights and the lasting impact of traumatic experiences on their development. Fear, guilt, and mistrust were the predominant symptoms these children and families continue to struggle with long afterwards, and this is exactly what we also witness when working with victims and their families." 🫂 At Protect Children, we stand with victims, survivors and families affected by child sexual abuse and exploitation (#CSAE). We believe there is still much more we can do collectively to ensure that every child’s right to a safe, loving, and supportive environment is fully realised. 💚 We express our gratitude to Jessica Schwarz and the entire Global Human Rights Defence team for organising such an important and successful event! Thank you also to Edith Bardel, Dr Sheila Varadan and Priyam Gandhi-Mody for the insightful discussions during the panel. A special thank you also to Anghelina Severin & Putheany Kim for your powerful words on children's rights. 💚 Let's work together to create a safer world where all children can enjoy a childhood free from violence, filled with support and dignity. #ChildrensRights #ProtectChildren #OnlineSafety #TheHagueHumanRightsFilmFestival

🌍 Over 22,000 Survivors Speak Out in the Global #OurVoice Survivor Survey! 💬 “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.” 💚 🔎 Our latest report shares profound insights into child sexual abuse survivors’ experiences, the long-term impact of abuse, and their journeys of healing and recovery. It also sheds light on perpetrators, patterns of violence, and the crucial process of disclosure. 🙌 This report underscores the power of truly listening to survivors. By amplifying their voices, we aim to build a future where children are safeguarded, survivors are supported, and justice is served. 📥 Access the full report via the link in the comments below. Supported by #JusticeInitiative

🎇 Save the date—#2KNOW Project Final Conference will take place on 4 February 2025 in Brussels!   🗓 We warmly welcome all child protection professionals, decision makers, and law enforcement agents to join the conference and participate in the crucial discussion on ending online crimes of sexual violence against children.   In strong collaboration between Protect Children, the University of Eastern Finland, and CBSS Children at Risk (Council of the Baltic Sea States), Project 2KNOW:   🟢 Piloted the You are Enough™ peer support groups for caregivers whose children fell victim to online sexual violence and developed a scalable model for the group; 🟢 Produced groundbreaking knowledge about anonymous child sexual abuse material offenders in the #darkweb.   📝 We will disseminate the registration form next week on all our social media platforms. We strongly encourage participants to join in-person, but it is also possible to attend online.   🔔 Stay tuned, save the date, and sign up next week! 

❓ What happens once the silence around sexual abuse is broken ❓ Protect Childrens latest report, 'The Global Our Voice Survivor Survey', is a groundbreaking wake-up call. With insights from 22,000 adult survivors of child sexual abuse across 109 countries, the findings reveal an urgent need for action. 🔴 64% of adult survivors were sexually abused between the ages of 3 & 9. 🔴 Most disclosures didn’t lead to investigations or meaningful support. 🔴 Survivors endure lifelong mental health struggles and relationship challenges, often without the help they need. The message is clear: Survivors deserve better. It’s time to listen. It’s time to act. The devastating impacts of abuse demand robust support systems and a commitment to directing resources where they’re needed most. Because breaking the silence should never be where the story ends. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dTZi63_H Eva Díaz Bethencourt Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen #BreakTheSilence #SupportSurvivors #ProtectChildren #OurVoice

📢 Prevention is child protection - we must act before offences take place. 👉 The consequences of child sexual abuse are enormous. This is why we need an approach that prevents #CSA before it occurs. Prevention programs provide support to individuals at risk of offending against children or those who have offended, thereby preventing victimisation and re-victimisation. 🔔 To protect children from harm in the first place, help and support must address everyone in need. 📺 Watch the video produced by 2PS Project for the #PreventionIsChildProtection campaign and visit the Raising Awareness webpage to learn more about prevention. 🔗 Link to the video: https://lnkd.in/e9fCz4Zm 🔗 Link to the Raising Awareness webpage: https://lnkd.in/eU_XM65N

♀️ Today, we commemorate #25N, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (#VaW).   🌍 Violence against women and girls constitutes one of the most pervasive human rights violations globally. According to the United Nations, a woman is killed every 10 minutes, and nearly 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.   ⚠️Humanitarian emergencies, international conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, systemic and structural discriminations, intersecting forms of oppression, and deepening poverty are circumstances that amplify vulnerabilities. These factors also create increased risks of children being subjected to sexual violence.   💡At Protect Children, we recognise the importance of addressing the gendered dimensions of violence in our mission to prevent and end child sexual abuse and exploitation. It is crucial to identify and consider the unique ways in which violence impacts different individuals, particularly women and girls. By acknowledging these differences, we can develop more effective preventive measures and strengthen our efforts to create a future free from all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence.   📢 Together, we can make a difference. ✊💚 Visit our website to learn more about our work!   #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #EndViolenceAgainstChildren #ProtectChildren

📢 New survey for health and prevention professionals.   🔎 The EU-funded 2PS Project is collecting insights about reporting and discretion exercised by professionals when working with people who have a sexual interest in children or are at risk of offending against children.   👉 The results will be used to raise awareness about preventive actions and increase access to help services.   🔔 Your participation will provide valuable insights into reporting requirements and professional discretion in your country.    🔗 Take part in the survey here: https://lnkd.in/dBtsGGsw