Statement to the UN: Protecting children from sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse: progress, new frontiers and the path forward
- Protect Children
- 25 minutes ago
- 2 min read
STATEMENT by Protect Children to the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children
You can read the full statement here:
Protect Children has provided the UN with a statement on protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. The purpose of the statement was to inform the final report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children to the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (February-March 2026), pursuant to the Human Rights Council Resolution 52/26.
The report focuses on an overview of the main developments relating to the mandate and new patterns of sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children to developing ideas and recommendations for taking the mandate forward and effectively combatting the phenomenon.
This Statement addresses the new patterns emerging in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, alongside providing ideas and recommendations answering Questions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the call for inputs.
Key Patterns:
Emergence of online violent groups that groom and exploit children through coercion, manipulation and psychological control.
Intersection of child sexual abuse with AI technologies
Dangers of immersive technologies and Encrypted Digital Environments
Livestreaming of child sexual abuse
Additionally, the statement provides the following recommendations:
Providing support to victims, survivors, and their families is essential for their healing journey, especially due to the consequences of such violence.
Strengthening holistic approaches that target early intervention, offender-focused prevention and promoting children's digital safety skills.
Promoting consistency and cohesion in criminalising AI-generated CSAM.
Adopting legislative reforms to extend or abolish the statute of limitations for crimes of sexual violence against children.
Securing stronger measures on tech platforms for investigators of CSAM cases.
Recognising CSAM as a global phenomenon, requiring strong international and regional cooperation.
Protect Children emphasised that protecting children from all forms of sexual violence requires urgent, immediate and holistic action. Stronger regulations, survivor-centred approaches, and accountability from service providers are essential to ensure meaningful participation and change. We advocate for a holistic response that prioritises every child right to live free from sexual violence.
