ACTION ALERTS

Thank you for your continuing support.

On November 7, the United Nations declared November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. The resolution, which was sponsored by Sierra Leone and Nigeria and co-sponsored by more than 120 countries, was adopted by consensus and with the full support of the Vatican State.

November 18, 2022 marks the first United Nations World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. Let's light up the world on this day to support this landmark event in the history of the child sexual abuse prevention movement.

CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN A VIRTUAL EVENT on November 17 & 18, 2022

INVITE YOUR COMMUNITY TO LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE on November 18, 2022

Why a World Day is so important

United Nations International Days are effective tools for educating the public on issues of concern and mobilizing political will and resources to address global problems impacting humanity.1

The World Day for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Healing will:

Increase the awareness of CSEA, and mobilize civil society and governments to act,
Promote greater understanding of the impact of childhood sexual exploitation and abuse,
Motivate governments, and civil society to dedicate resources for the prevention of all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse,
Promote greater support for social services for those who have been impacted by these tragic crimes,
Help to eliminate the stigma, shame and fear experienced by victims and survivors by elevating their voices, and promoting opportunities for them to seek justice, and the support they require to heal from their childhood trauma.

Did you know

Child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) is a global public health crisis, with significant long-term adverse consequences to the emotional, and physical health and wellbeing of victims, and their family members. Because of the shame, stigma, and fear associated with their experiences, many victims of CSEA suffer alone and in silence never disclosing, and/or seeking justice, and/or rehabilitation for their abuse.2 As a result, they often live anguished, tortured lives, with a significantly higher risk of mortality related to suicide. Studies found the prevalence of suicide among youths is ten to thirteen times greater in individuals with a history of CSEA.3

Globally, one in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child aged 0-17 years, and in some regions of the world, 1 in 3 children have experienced some form of CSEA before their 19th birthday.4 The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 120 million girls and young women under 20 years of age have suffered some form of forced sexual contact.5 However, child sexual exploitation and abuse is not solely restricted to physical contact; sexual abuse often includes sexually oriented non-contact, such as exposure, voyeurism, and child pornography.

Globally, 7 trillion (USD), representing 8 percent of GDP, is lost each year because of violence against children, including sexual exploitation and abuse. According to a report by the CDC, effective evidence-based strategies are available to proactively protect children against CSEA, but few have been widely disseminated due to the lack of awareness and understanding of the problem; inadequate, or unenforced policies; and insufficient resources at the local, national, and international level.6

The prevalence and serious sequelae associated with child sexual abuse, combined with the economic consequences, and the fact that CSEA is preventable has placed CSEA among the 24 risk factors identified by the WHO as substantively contributing to the global burden of disease.7

Given the facts above, it is clear, CSEA is a global public health challenge. We must all take action to protect children, and support children from these devastating crimes.

Who we are

The Global Collaborative is an all-volunteer, survivor led network of child advocacy organizations, academic institutions, survivor networks, NGOs, and faith actors mobilizing to bring an end to child sexual exploitation and abuse. Our mission is to support governments, and institutions in their efforts to protect children from CSEA and promote healing for survivors of childhood trauma.

We believe victims and survivors of child sexual abuse deserve to know that their lives matter, that what they experienced was wrong, and that healing is possible. Please join us in supporting this important event in the history of the child sexual exploitation and abuse prevention movement.

HOW YOU CAN HELP #Nov18WorldDay

CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN A VIRTUAL EVENT on November 17 & 18, 2022

INVITE YOUR COMMUNITY TO LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE on November 18, 2022

ADD YOUR SIGNATURE TO AN OPEN LETTER to the Missions of Sierra Leone and Nigeria in support of their landmark action to protect children against sexual violence. With your help we can end child sexual abuse and ensure that children have safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments in which to grow and flourish.

Open Letter to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Your Excellencies,

We applaud your efforts to bring a resolution forward to the United Nations General Assembly to declare the 18 November, the World Day for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Healing. We believe this action will help to bring an end to sexual violence against children and promote healing and justice for victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence across the globe.

We envision a world free of sexual violence, where children have safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments in which to grow and flourish. Your action to establish an international day of observance for child sexual exploitation and abuse prevention and healing will help bring governments and civil society together to accomplish these aims.

Thank you for taking these bold steps to protect children against the devastating global public health crisis of

sexual exploitation and abuse.

We fully support this resolution.

Sincerely,

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR SIGNATURE

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1. https://www.un.org/en/observances

2. Münzer A, Fegert JM, Ganser HG, Loos S, Witt A, Goldbeck L. Please Tell! Barriers to Disclosing Sexual Victimization and Subsequent Social Support Perceived by Children and Adolescents. J Interpers Violence. 2016 Jan;31(2):355-77. doi: 10.1177/0886260514555371. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25381281.

3. Plunkett A, O'Toole B, Swanston H, Oates RK, Shrimpton S, Parkinson P. Suicide risk following child sexual abuse. Ambul Pediatr. 2001 Sep-Oct;1(5):262-6. doi: 10.1367/1539-4409(2001)001<0262:srfcsa>2.0.co;2. PMID: 11888413.

4. https://www.togetherforgirls.org/violence-children-surveys

5. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment

6. Basile, K.C., DeGue, S., Jones, K., Freire, K., Dills, J., Smith, S.G., Raiford, J.L. (2016). STOP SV: A Technical Package to Prevent Sexual Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

7. Stevens G, Mascarenhas M, Mathers C. Global health risks: progress and challenges. Bull World Health Organ. 2009 Sep;87(9):646. doi: 10.2471/blt.09.070565. PMID: 19784438; PMCID: PMC2739926.