“Dare to see, dare to hear, but above all, dare to do something”- new study reveals critical gaps in Sweden’s systems for preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation
- Protect Children
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
PRESS RELEASE
The title of the press release includes a quote from a Swedish-speaking survivor of childhood sexual violence.
Stockholm/Helsinki - 2 June 2025. 850 Swedish-speaking victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence have shared their stories through a groundbreaking survey in an effort to raise awareness about the realities of the abuse they endured. The High-Level Nordic Child Protection Conference in Stockholm, organised by the Finnish child-rights organisation Protect Children, in collaboration with the Justice Initiative and supported by the Nordic Child Tech Policy Alliance, amplifies the voices and wisdom of survivors aiming to advance efforts to prevent and end child sexual abuse and exploitation across the Nordic countries. The Council of Europe Resolution 2533 calls on Sweden to take action.
For the first time: Swedish-speaking victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence share the realities and challenges of the abuse they endured
Presented for the first time today, the study conducted by Protect Children, a Finnish child-rights organisation, reached 850 Swedish-speaking victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence through the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey. The results reveal critical gaps in Sweden’s* systems for preventing abuse and supporting victims and survivors.
The participating survivors highlighted significant barriers to justice, recognition, and healing. For one in three, it took over 21 years to disclose the abuse. Despite this, nearly seven out of ten never received support for dealing with the long-term negative impacts, such as inter alia post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, revictimisation, anxiety disorder and panic attacks, and difficulty in forming and maintaining personal relationships.
The report emphasises that sexual violence against children remains a largely hidden crime enshrouded in stereotypes and misconceptions. Nearly half of survivors reported the perpetrator lived in their household. Many were subjected to repeated and various forms of childhood sexual violence, often starting very early, between ages 3 and 9. These results cannot be ignored.
Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Executive Director, Psychotherapist at Protect Children, emphasises ”Disclosing child sexual abuse trauma is often an immensely difficult process—one that can take years, even decades. The silence is not a measure of weakness, but a reflection of the depth of pain, fear, and the complex layers of shame reminding us to always approach survivors with empathy, patience, and understanding.”
Council of Europe Resolution 2533 - Sweden must take action
Today, the voices of 850 Swedish-speaking survivors of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation are being amplified at the Nordic Child Protection Conference in Stockholm. Survivors, high-level politicians, and child rights organisations have come together for powerful speeches, survivor testimonies, and a dynamic panel discussion focused on strengthening child protection across the Nordics.
Against the background of the great suffering, the call for a reappraisal of the cases of abuse is becoming louder. The conference addresses the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Resolution 2533 on child abuse in institutions in Europe (2024) in Sweden and advocates for stronger support systems for victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence. "Sweden, as a member State of the Council of Europe must deal with abuses of the past, now. You do that for the survivors and for the country itself, which can become a role model for all Nordic countries.”, highlights Guido Fluri, President of the Guido Fluri Foundation and initiator of the Justice Initiative, which lobbied for the resolution and the investigation of the abuse cases at the Council of Europe.
The SHAME European Stories Exhibition shows abuse as a widely-spread phenomenon in Europe that requires a comprehensive response
The event also features the opening of the SHAME European Stories Exhibition, which breaks the silence around child sexual abuse and exploitation by documenting survivors’ experiences.
Saga, a survivor of child sexual abuse in Sweden whose portrait is displayed at the Shame exhibition, shares “The sexual abuse started when I was 12 years old and continued throughout my teenage years […] I used to think it was my fault and I felt ashamed. I felt that it would be my fault if more sexual assaults happened to me.”.
“Listening to survivors’ experiences reinforces the urgent need for action. Swedish policymakers must strengthen prevention and support systems per Council of Europe recommendations to better protect children and ensure support and justice.” summarises Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Specialist and Human Rights Lawyer at Protect Children.
Read the full report here:
About Protect Children: Protect Children is a non-governmental child-rights organisation based in Finland, working globally to end all forms of sexual violence against children. Protect Children adopt a holistic, research-based approach to address the issue from multiple angles. Learn more about Protect Children: https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en
About the Justice Initiative: The Justice Initiative is a European initiative aiming to restore justice for past victims of abuse across Europe and strengthen child protection for future generations. Protect Children, the leader of the Justice Initiative Nordic Hub, developed the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey with support from the Justice Initiative. Learn more about the Justice Initiative: http://justice-initiative.eu
About the Nordic Child Tech Policy Alliance (NOCTA): NOCTA was established by child rights organisations to give Nordic children a common voice in the Nordic countries, the EU and globally. As of March 2025, the group consists of Barnevakten (Norway), Bris (Sweden), Børns Vilkår (Denmark), Digitalt Ansvar (Denmark), Prinsparets Stiftelse (Sweden), Protect Children (Finland) and UNICEF Sverige (Sweden).
For more information, please contact:
Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Executive Director at Protect Children
nina.vaaranen-valkonen@suojellaanlapsia.fi +358 40 747 8829 (interviews in English)
Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Specialist and Human Rights Lawyer at Protect Children
eva.diaz.bethencourt@suojellaanlapsia.fi +358 40 084 7607 (interviews in English)
