ECPAT International

After 16 years on X (formerly Twitter), it's time for us to say goodbye. Rampant disinformation, harmful content, and the exploitation of survivors' trauma have made the platform an unsafe space that no longer aligns with our values. Effective immediately, ECPAT is ceasing all activity on X and shifting to Bluesky, where we will continue to advocate for child protection in a safer digital space. 🔷 Follow us on Bluesky: https://lnkd.in/egxbJixs ✉️ Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eQf-ADut --- We’re building our Bluesky community and would love your help! Know any child rights or child protection organisations we should follow? Drop their names in the comments ⬇️

We’re excited to welcome Chantal Khoueiry to the ECPAT International Board! A champion for women and children, Chantal’s global initiatives, including DO GOOD with The Bicester Collection and Brides do Good, have driven transformative change. Her extensive experience in private sector engagement and fundraising will help further our mission. Welcome, Chantal!

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts Must End – We Need Coordinated Action   🚨 A new UN report has revealed that allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse within UN missions surpassed 100 cases in 2024, with 65 women giving birth after claiming peacekeepers raped them. Alarmingly, the report also identified 27 child victims and highlighted that despite a "zero-tolerance" policy, a 2024 U.N. staff survey found that 555 staff said it was acceptable to engage in sexual activity with a child.   The sexual exploitation of children in humanitarian settings is not new, but it remains deeply underreported and poorly addressed. ECPAT’s recent research in Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq shows that:   🔹 Children face heightened vulnerability due to economic deprivation and lack of protective systems.   🔹 Sexual exploitation often takes the form of transactional or survival sex in exchange for basic necessities like food and shelter.   🔹 Boys are also victims of sexual exploitation but face additional barriers to seeking help due to stigma and societal norms.   🔹 Humanitarian systems are fragmented and poorly coordinated, leaving critical gaps in protection and support.   We need to break the cycle of sexual exploitation and impunity.   Learn more about ECPAT’s groundbreaking research and how we’re pushing for stronger protection for children in humanitarian contexts: https://lnkd.in/dHhhVanW Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gZnjSUSn

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yi-Ling for her invaluable contributions as a board member at ECPAT International. With over 20 years of expertise in children’s and women’s rights, her leadership has driven critical reforms and empowered countless communities. Thank you, Yi-Ling, for your unwavering dedication. 🌟

📢 ECPAT at the Vatican: Protecting Children in the AI Era   We proudly announce that Guillaume Landry, Executive Director of ECPAT International, will take part in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Workshop on “Risks and Opportunities of AI for Children: A Common Commitment for Safeguarding Children” in Vatican City.   Guillaume will be contributing to a panel on Protect, Provide, Participate: Children First in the AI Era to bring the specific point of view of civil society organisations from around the world on the matter of safeguarding children from the emerging threats of AI, including the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material and the role of technology in grooming and sexual exploitation.   This groundbreaking workshop will bring together global leaders from academia, the tech industry, civil society, and faith-based organisations to develop concrete solutions and ensure that AI protects children rather than harms them.

📢 AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Rise—Tech Platforms Must Act 🚨 Europol has issued a stark warning: organised crime gangs are increasingly using AI-powered tools to generate and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 🔎 Criminals are leveraging AI to: ➡️ Scale operations globally at lower costs.  ➡️ Craft convincing impersonations and blackmail targets more effectively.  ➡️ Produce highly realistic AI-generated CSAM—making it harder to detect and remove. Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, cautioned: “The very DNA of organised crime is changing… These technologies are automating and expanding criminal operations, making them more scalable and harder to detect.” 📢 This is a global crisis—and tech platforms must be held accountable for protecting children online. Stronger regulations and improved safety measures are urgently needed. 💡 At ECPAT, we are working to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. From advocating for stronger legislation to supporting survivors, we are committed to building a safer digital world for children. 👉 Learn more about our work on online child safety: https://lnkd.in/gsX-zpW8  

📢 Proud to Contribute to Groundbreaking Work on Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation in Humanitarian and Peacekeeping Contexts ECPAT International is proud to have contributed to the Special Rapporteur's groundbreaking report on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in peacekeeping and humanitarian contexts, a critical issue that demands urgent attention and accountability. This report highlights key gaps in existing protection frameworks and calls for stronger action to combat impunity and ensure a child-rights-based approach to protection, as presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council (A/HRC/58/52) by Mama Fatima Singhateh. Our contribution was based on our research to dissect the complexities of sexual exploitation affecting children in humanitarian contexts. In collaboration with ECPAT members in Ethiopia (Emmanuel Development Association), Kenya (Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children’s Rights – KAACR) and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights), our findings provide essential insights into the challenges and call for immediate action. Some of our key insights:  - The breakdown of traditional protective mechanisms during crises exposes children to heightened risks of sexual exploitation.  - In humanitarian crisis, girls and boys are facing various forms of sexual exploitation, in prostitution and online, facilitated by a range of actors from informal transport or entertainment sector to humanitarian workers.  - Persistent stigmatisation and deeply rooted cultural beliefs frequently shift blame to child victims, undermining efforts to address systemic issues and hold perpetrators accountable. Our recommendations:  - Local communities and children, including young survivors, must be involved in crafting culturally sensitive and sustainable solutions, effectively tailored to the children’s needs. - Perpetrators must be held accountable.  - Child Protection is a lifesaving intervention that requires urgent coordinated actions and adequate funding.  📢 We will continue to stand alongside global partners in driving this work forward and ensuring that children are protected from sexual exploitation. 👉 Read our full report here: https://lnkd.in/dHhhVanW 

Children and young people aren't just the future, they're shaping change right now. Introducing ECPAT International's #ChildParticipation Newsletter, a space where young voices, ideas, and actions take centre stage! In our first edition, find out how we're working with young people worldwide—from pushing for stronger online safety to ensuring they have a say in the programmes that impact their lives. 📖 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gY5z4eAk 🔍 Learn more about how ECPAT champions child and youth participation: https://lnkd.in/gjR_shBp

📢 Rise in Child-on-Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Highlights Need for Safer Tech Platforms and Better Sexuality and Relationships Education. Nearly 40,000 cases of child-on-child sexual abuse were reported in England and Wales in 2023, according to new police data, a disturbing and complex trend that demands urgent action. We saw similar trends in our #DisruptingHarm data: around 1 in 3 cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse are perpetrated by children under 18 known to the victim in Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and up to 64% in Thailand. The Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) report highlights several key issues:  🔹 Over 50% of child sexual abuse offences are perpetrated by a child aged 10 to 17.  🔹 Over 40% involved indecent images, many of which were self-generated.  🔹 The rise in abuse is linked to unfiltered access to harmful online content and a lack of understanding about consent. As Gareth Edwards, Director of the VKPP, explains: “It can be challenging for children to understand the concept of consent in different contexts.” This underscores the urgent need for:  ✅ Comprehensive sexuality and relationships education: Children must understand healthy relationships, boundaries, and the concept of consent and respect from an early age.  ✅ Greater responsibility from tech platforms: Unfiltered access to harmful content fuels abuse. Tech companies must implement stronger safety measures to protect children online.  ✅ Creating protective environments: Governments must fund programmes to support caregivers, schools, and communities to foster safe spaces to discuss healthy relationships and sexuality education so that children feel supported and protected. 📢 Comprehensive sexuality education isn’t just important; it is essential to preventing abuse and protecting children. Tech platforms must be held accountable for creating safer online spaces. 👉 Learn more about how ECPAT is working in a coalition to protect children and demand stronger regulations: https://lnkd.in/gsX-zpW8 

📢 Now Available: New Council of Europe Online Course on Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 🆕 Legal and child protection professionals—this is for you! The Council of Europe has launched a new online training course on the protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse. This valuable resource is designed to strengthen the capacity of legal, justice, and child protection professionals to effectively tackle these complex crimes. Why this course matters:  ✅ Covers international standards through the lens of the Lanzarote Convention.  ✅ Highlights effective practices from state parties.  ✅ Designed for legal professionals, but useful for anyone working with or for children.  ✅ Available in English and French—free of charge and self-paced. 📢 Equip yourself with the tools to better protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. 👉 Enrol now on the HELP Online Learning Platform: https://lnkd.in/egySbxpc