This paper connects the experience and learning in PROMISE Elpis with EU legal and policy developments. It shares recommendations for EU and national policy makers to help them take targeted measures for child victims of online sexual abuse. It also assists stakeholders and practitioners in connecting their work with the developing EU legal and policy framework.
Key recommendations cover:
- Ensuring child victims of online sexual abuse have their needs and rights met, in the same way as child victims of physical sexual abuse.
- Improving early identification and prevention of online child sexual abuse.
- Strengthening collaboration, specialisation and support for children in transnational cases of online child sexual abuse.
- Leveraging regional resources and ensure a dynamic approach to address current and future challenges.
- Actively consulting with children on how to prevent and respond to online child sexual abuse.
The is written with for European and national policymakers, regional stakeholders and decision making professionals working in the field of online child sexual abuse.
The paper might inspire policy and actions on:
- Promoting a child-centred approach in all justice proceedings involving children, to ensure that child victims of online sexual abuse have their needs and rights met in the same way as child victims of physical sexual abuse.
- Strengthening multidisciplinary interagency collaboration and promoting the development of specialised tools and training, to equip professionals with the skills and resources needed to respond effectively to the specific challenges of online child sexual abuse.
- Encouraging national authorities, stakeholders and practitioners to mobilise the full array of EU and international measures to prevent and respond to online sexual abuse.
- Aligning national efforts with EU strategies and policies, helping countries adopt coherent, rights-based approaches that reflect the latest legal developments.
- Highlighting the importance of consulting children to include their perspectives in shaping prevention strategies, improving services and building systems that truly reflect their lived experiences.
“PROMISE Elpis” was funded by the European Union through its Internal Security Fund (ISF) program, with partner co-funding. Charité (Coordinator), AvBIT, The Barnahus Network via the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Children at Risk, Child Circle, Children 1st, HEUNI (The European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations),National Children’s Advocacy Center USA, UKHD (Childhood Haus Heidelberg), Germany). The contents of this page and its linked resources are the sole responsibility of the publisher and can no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.