Parents' Experiences Following Sexual Violence Against Their Children in Central Asia
NEW REPORT
Our new report explores how complex and long-lasting consequences of image-based child sexual abuse and exploitation affect not only children but also their parents. It highlights the importance of recognising parents not only in their caregiving role, but as individuals who may themselves experience lasting consequences of child sexual violence and have distinct support needs.
The study is based on the interviews with ten parents from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan whose children have fallen victim to sexual violence. It provides valuable insights that continue addressing a knowledge gap about child sexual violence in Central Asia.
 | “It's not only the child... The souls of the whole family, of everyone, are broken inside.” - Anonymous parent from Kazakhstan. |
Published: 12 October 2026
Parents Experiences Following Sexual Violence Against Their Children
Insights from parents in Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan
Quick findings:
Child sexual violence affects the whole family and disrupts everyday life. Nine out of ten parents described impacts across the family, including strained relationships with partners, effects on other children and extended family relations. All described disruption to family routines and daily life.
Parents experience significant physical and psychological impacts. All parents reported impacts on their physical health, and nearly all described psychological impacts, which varied considerably between individuals.
Families face financial and employment challenges. Eight out of ten parents reported significant financial or employment difficulties, including due to the costs and geographic inaccessibility of services.
Neighbours can provide support or create additional pressure. Parents described neighbours and communities as important influences with some experiencing support while others emphasising unwanted involvement and pressure.
Stigma and isolation compound the impact. Parents described shame, social isolation, ostracisation, misunderstanding, and persistent gossip surrounding their child’s experience.
The findings point to the importance of strengthening and improving support services for parents and whole families impacted by child sexual violence, ensuring that support reflects the diverse and long-term impacts described by parents.
We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of all parents and caregivers who shared their experiences and insights. We sincerely thank our partner organisations Child’s Rights Defenders League, Istiqbolli Avlod, Tashabbusi Huquqi, Union of Crisis Centers, and Women Lawyers for Development for their valuable contribution to this research. |
This report is part of Project Lens, an initiative which aims to understand and prevent emerging forms of image-based sexual violence against children.
The project is led by Protect Children, with the University of Eastern Finland as partner.
The project has Child's Rights Defenders League (Kyrgyzstan), Istiqbolli Avlod (Uzbekistan), Tashabbusi Huquqi (Tajikistan), Union of Crisis Centers (Kazakhstan) and Women Lawyers (Tajikistan) as local partners.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided for this project by Safe Online. Learn more at https://safeonline.global/
