Protect Children Commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- Protect Children
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
BLOG POST
On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we focus on countless women who were denied the right to a safe childhood and subjected to sexual violence. Globally, 1 in 5 girls and women experience sexual violence before the age of 18, with 1 in 8 being subject to such severe forms of abuse as rape or assault [1].
This blog post was researched and written by Protect Children and our intern Roxana Fargas Orta.
Sexual Violence is a Gendered Crime
Gender stereotypes objectify and sexualise girls from an early age, increasing their risk of victimisation [2]. Harmful social and cultural norms position girls as more vulnerable, forcing them to be compliant and building tolerance to abusive behaviours [3]. This is further exacerbated by intersecting and pervasive structural inequalities such as political discrimination, insufficient legal protections, limited access to education, and poverty [4]. Altogether, this creates a world where girls systematically experience high risks of sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as other forms of violence. In online environment, where misogynistic and sexist ideologies are increasingly prevalent, these risks multiply [5].
Advancements in Technology Have Escalated Risks of Child Sexual Violence for Girls
1 in 2 girls face at least one online sexual harm, including receiving sexually explicit content from adults, being asked to do something sexually explicit online they were not comfortable with or keep sexually explicit interactions online a secret, and suffering non-consensual resharing of self-taken sexual images [6]. Other forms of technology-facilitated violence affecting girls include grooming, sexual extortion, and crimes related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Over the past three years, 97% of all CSAM detected by the Internet Watch Foundation depicted girls [7]. This is also reflected in Protect Children’s surveys of offenders in the dark web, where 78% of online child sexual violence offenders report using CSAM depicting girls [8].
Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Girls’ Safety Online
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entailed new risks – it has been misused to facilitate grooming and sexual extortion, promote extreme misogynistic content, and spread harmful ideas and false information online [9]. Offenders also misuse generative AI to manipulate existing CSAM, edit non-sexual images of girls, or generate entirely new, synthetic material [10] [11]. Reflecting a trend in the recorded CSAM, 98% of AI-generated imagery depicts girls [12]. This may stem from the widespread objectification and sexualisation of girls, as well as AI being predominantly trained on the material depicting girls [13].
AI-generated CSAM always harms real girls – it further sexualises and objectifies them, victimises children whose likenesses are used as a prompt or for AI-model training material, sustains demand for CSAM, fuels dangerous fantasies, hinders investigation and victim identification, and, ultimately, increases the risk for more severe offences [14]. |
Surrounded by this environment, girls are pressured into self-censoring themselves, limiting their online presence, or avoiding digital spaces altogether [15]. The perpetual concern about safety not only restricts girls’ freedom but also takes a significant toll on their mental health and well-being, affecting many areas of their lives [16].
Our Voice: Voices and Wisdom of Child Sexual Violence Survivors
91% of respondents to Protect Children’s Global Our Voice Survey of survivors of childhood sexual violence identified as women [17]. Many respondents were subjected to various forms of technology-facilitated child sexual violence, sometimes simultaneously. 84% of survivors shared that they were subjected to online violence on more than one occasion. [18]
Technology-facilitated child sexual violence is as harmful as its other forms. The awareness that the evidence of the abuse may be circulating online, the fear to be recognised from the material, and the absence of the physical intimidation may lead to increased self-blame and shame [19] [20]. 83% of survivors of technology-facilitated child sexual violence shared that it led to long-term negative consequences [21]. Such negative impacts as depression, difficulties in forming and maintaining close relationships, anxiety disorder/panic attacks, eating disorders, and somatic symptoms were more prevalent among female survivors compared to male survivors who experienced image-based abuse [22].
Response from Protect Children:
Protect Children always prioritises the well-being of victims and survivors of child sexual violence in all our work. Through the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey, we have raised the voices and wisdom of nearly 25,000 victims and survivors of child sexual violence in 35 languages from all over the world. This invaluable knowledge informs all our research, prevention efforts, and advocacy and awareness work.
Sexual violence devastates the lives of girls, stealing their childhoods and shaping their futures long before they reach adulthood. It is time to confront harmful gender norms, challenge stereotypes, address institutionalised and structural inequalities, and foster environments where girls feel valued and safe. We call for prioritising survivor-centered response to child sexual violence, where girls are believed, supported, and provided access and opportunities to adequate help, safe spaces, and healing.
References
[1] United Nations Children’s Fund. (2025). Sexual violence– UNICEF Data. UNICEF. https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/violence/sexual-violence/
[2] The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025). Gender equality in a changing world: Violence against women remains pervasive. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/05/gender-equality-in-a-changing-world_5a0af5ef/full-report/violence-against-women-remains-pervasive_aa39
[3] United Nations Children’s Fund. (2021). Gender dimensions of violence against children and adolescents. UNICEF Innocenti. https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/media/7211/file/Child-Protection-Gender-Dimensions-of-VACAG-2021.pdf
[4] UNICEF. (2021). Gender dimensions of violence against children and adolescents. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/media/92376/file/child-protection-gender-dimension
[5] United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). (2025). How to counter the manosphere’s toxic influence. https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/how-to-counter-the-manospheres-toxic-influence
[6] WeProtect Global Alliance & Economist Impact (2024). Estimates of childhood exposure to online sexual harms and their risk factors: Global survey. https://www.weprotect.org/economist-impact-global-survey/#report
[7] Internet Watch Foundation. (2024). Analysis by sex: Trends in child sexual abuse imagery. Internet Watch Foundation. https://www.iwf.org.uk/annual-data-insights-report-2024/data-and-insights/analysis-by-sex/
[8] Protect Children. (2024). 2KNOW Preliminary Findings Report: Knowledge to Prevent Online Sexual Violence Against Children. Project 2KNOW. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/2know-preliminary-findings-report-2
[9] United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). (2025). AI‑powered online abuse: How AI is amplifying violence against women and what can stop it. UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/ai-powered-online-abuse-how-ai-is-amplifying-violence-against-women-and-what-can-stop-it
[10] Internet Watch Foundation. (2025). Charity raises alarm over surge in level of child sexual abuse imagery hosted in EU. https://www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/news/charity-raises-alarm-over-surge-in-level-of-child-sexual-abuse-imagery-hosted-in-eu/
[11] U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence on criminal and illicit activities. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_0927_ia_aep-impact-ai-on-criminal-and-illicit-activities.pdf
[12] Internet Watch Foundation. (2024). Addressing AI‑generated child sexual abuse imagery. In Annual Data & Insights Report 2024. Internet Watch Foundation. https://www.iwf.org.uk/annual-data-insights-report-2024/data-and-insights/ai-generated-child-sexual-abuse/
[13] De Silva De Alwis, R., Crown, S., Gomes, T., & Akula, B. (2025). University of Pennsylvania, AI & Bias Policy Lab. (2025). Fairness, security, and AI: Policy challenges and possibilities in the age of algorithms. Penn Carey Law. https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/13476-fairness-security-and-ai-policy-challenges-and
[14] Internet Watch Foundation. (2025). Charity raises alarm over surge in level of child sexual abuse imagery hosted in EU. https://www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/news/charity-raises-alarm-over-surge-in-level-of-child-sexual-abuse-imagery-hosted-in-eu/
[15] United Nations Population Fund. (2024). Technology-facilitated gender based violence: A growing threat. United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/TFGBV
[16] Flynn, A., Powell, A., & Hindes, S. (2021). Technology‑facilitated abuse: A survey of support services stakeholders. Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. https://anrows-2019.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/20222234/4AP.4-Flynn_et_al-TFa_Stakeholder_Survey.pdf
[17] Díaz Bethencourt, E., Insoll, T., Ovaska, A., Leivo, K., Soloveva, V., & Vaaranen-Valkonen, N. (2024). Global Our Voice Survivor Survey: Experiences of adult survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation across 29 languages. Protect Children. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/our-voice-global-report
[18] Protect Children. (2024). Tech platforms used by online child sexual abuse offenders. Suojellaan Lapsia. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/tech-platforms-child-sexual-abuse
[19] Canadian Centre for Child Protection. (2024). Experiences of child sexual abuse material survivors: How technology companies’ inaction leads to fear, stalking, and harassment. https://protectchildren.ca/pdfs/C3P_ExperiencesOfCSAMSurvivors_en.pdf
[20] Protect Children. (2024). The Long-Lasting Impact of Online Child Sexual Abuse. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/impact-of-online-child-sexual-abuse
[21] Protect Children. (2024). Tech Platforms Used by Online Child Sexual Abuse Offenders: Research Report with Actionable Recommendations for the Tech Industry. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/tech-platforms-child-sexual-abuse
[22] Protect Children. (2025). Through the Lens: Insights into Image‑Based Child Sexual Violence. Protect Children. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/through-the-lens-report
