Press Release: Survivors of childhood sexual violence seek urgent action to ‘redesign’ the internet to protect children

Press Release

Survivors of childhood sexual violence seek urgent action to 'redesign' the internet to protect children

Survivors join bereaved parents and high-level political figures, to put pressure on political leaders, funders and tech companies to end childhood sexual abuse online.

The move comes 100 days before the historic inaugural Global Ministerial on Ending Violence Against Children - the first time that global leaders will be asked to pledge action to end the scourge of childhood sexual violence.

July 17, 2024 [LONDON]: Today, survivors of childhood sexual violence will address the escalating threat to children’s lives posed by online abuse, and call for action to ‘redesign’ the internet and protect children ahead of the first ever global Ministerial on the issue in November 2024. This is a pivotal moment to redefine the digital world for children, ensuring that technology is used for their benefit and never for their harm.

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Thorn

Our grantees Thorn Bringing Light to the Dark Web Countries involved:United States of America The Fund is supporting Thorn’s Bringing Light to the Dark Web project, a global initiative that will use a new tool to help law enforcement identify children who are victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Thorn

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Capital Humano Y Social (CHS) Alternativo

Our grantees Capital Humano Y Social (CHS) Alternativo Preventing and Responding to Online Child Sexual Exploitation Countries involved:Peru In Peru, the Fund is supporting Capital Humano y Social Alternativo (CHS) to address child sexual exploitation online. CHS is providing psychological and legal assistance to victims of online sexual exploitation. They are also

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UNICEF Ethiopia

Our grantees UNICEF Ethiopia Strengthening Child Protection in Ethiopia to prevent and respond to violence against children, including online child sexual abuse and exploitation Countries involved:October 2017 – October 2019 UNICEF Ethiopia’s project will focus on strengthening child protection systems, including social welfare and justice systems, to prevent and respond to

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Call to Action: A digital world safe for every child

Call to Action

A digital world safe for every child!

Sexual violence against children and adolescents is a pressing global issue. The consequences of child sexual exploitation and abuse are profound, leading to serious implications for children’s health, societal participation and economic prospects. The digital world has amplified children’s exposure to sexual exploitation
and abuse, exposing children to unprecedented risks.

As per the latest Childlight data, one case of online child abuse is reported every second. The Internet Watch Foundation noted 2023 as a ‘record year’ for child sexual abuse with an 8 per cent increase in the number of child sexual abuse imagery found online from the previous year. New and emerging technologies like Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (ER) are turbocharging the rate of abuse, generating child sexual abuse material at a scale and speed never seen before.  

Safe Online has joined hands with survivors and global child protection organisations to call upon key actors to prevent and end the sexual exploitation and abuse of children online and create a safer digital future for every child.

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UNICEF Namibia

Our grantees UNICEF Namibia Tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Namibia Countries involved:Namibia In Namibia, the Fund helped UNICEF Namibia establish an online reporting portal, which now provides the public with a way to anonymously report cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. This project has also educated teachers,

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Turkiye Kadın Dernekleri Federasyonu

Our grantees Turkiye Kadın Dernekleri Federasyonu Connect the dots Countries involved:October 2017 – October 2019 Grant timeline:March 2023 – March 2024 Grantee website:tkdf.org.tr Funding amount:$47,710 Find other grantees

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What is digital safety and how do we measure it?

A recent white paper by the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety highlights the critical need for assessing digital safety. It provides a roadmap to navigate the complexities of measuring digital safety in the context of ongoing technological advancements and evolving regulatory frameworks.

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Our purpose in detail

We are here to ensure every child and young person grows in to the digital world feeling safe, and is protected from harm.

We support, champion, and invest in innovative partners from the public, private, and third sectors working towards the same objective.

We believe in equipping guardians and young people with the skills to understand and see danger themselves once accessing digital experiences without supervision.

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