Disrupting Harm
Disrupting Harm is a large-scale evidence-generation initiative providing key insights on technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse alongside evidence-based recommendations for action.
About Disrupting Harm
Funded by Safe Online through a total investment of USD 15 million, Disrupting Harm has been jointly implemented by ECPAT International, Interpol and UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti since 2019.
The uniqueness of this research lies in its multisectoral partnership and its comprehensive mix-methods approach combining a household survey, qualitative interviews with professionals, law enforcement and children and young people subjected to tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse during childhood, legal and policy analysis and much more. Bringing together the expertise of ECPAT International, INTERPOL and UNICEF Innocenti, the initiative has generated robust evidence on technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse, informing national, regional and global action.
In 2022, the project was completed in 13 countries across Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam) and Eastern and Southern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda) where it has already supported amendments in legislation and policy to better protect children online and has informed a range of interventions at a national level.
The success of the first phase of the project has led to a renewed commitment in 2022 and additional research in 12 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Mexico), Europe and Central Asia (Armenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), West Asia and North Africa, and South Asia (Pakistan).
KEY INSIGHTS FROM THE FIRST PHASE OF DISRUPTING HARM
Disrupting Harm data estimates that millions of children were subjected to tech-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse across the 13 countries in one year alone. The proportions of children subjected to this type of abuse and exploitation in the year prior to the study varied from 1% in Viet Nam to 20% of children in the Philippines. Scaled to the general population of Internet-using children, these estimates represent millions of children in each country.
In almost all 13 countries, perpetrators of tech-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse were more likely to be someone the child already knew. While unknown people still present a considerable risk, the danger is often closer to home.
Almost one in three children who had been subjected to tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse did not disclose to anyone with almost half saying they didn’t know where to go or who to tell.
Sexual abuse and/or exploitation often occurred through a mix of online and in-person interactions shattering the misconception that it remains limited to the digital world
Explore the Disrupting Harm Data Insights on the Safe Online website to learn more about these cross-country findings.
RESOURCES
COUNTRY REPORTS
Disrupting Harm has produced comprehensive country reports for all countries, presenting the research findings and tailored recommendations to strengthen national responses to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse.
All country reports are available on the Safe Online website here.
CONVERSATIONS WITH SURVIVORS REPORT
Disrupting Harm: Conversations With Young Survivors About Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse centres the perspectives of young survivors from 5 of the 13 countries included in the first phase of Disrupting Harm. The conversations focus on understanding and interpreting what these young people were subjected to, as well as their ideas concerning the best solutions. Read the full report:
Disrupting Harm: Conversations With Young Survivors About Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse LEARNING BRIEFS
Following the release of the country reports from the first phase of Disrupting Harm, ECPAT conducted secondary analysis to further delve into specific themes. Access them below:
Addressing the need for comprehensive sexuality and relationships education to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse
This secondary analysis highlighted a significant insight: a substantial number of children and caregivers lack awareness and understanding of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, which affects their ability to appropriately recognise and respond to such abuses.
Gender considerations in online child sexual exploitation and abuse: a focus on boys
This secondary analysis highlighted a significant insight: while gender does not determine the risk of such form of abuse and exploitation, gender norms and biases often hinder boys from recognising their victimisation and seeking assistance.
Understanding risks and instances of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in urban and rural settings
This secondary analysis highlighted a significant insight: despite conventional beliefs that link widespread urban connectivity with increased vulnerability to online child sexual exploitation and abuse, the Disrupting Harm research shows that children in rural areas
ECPAT would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the following ECPAT member organisations and civil society partners, colleagues and researchers whose commitment and expertise have shaped Disrupting Harm over the years.
ECPAT member organisations and civil society partners:
- APLE Cambodia
- Association Bayti in Morocco
- Association Meilleur Avenir Pour Nos Enfants in Morocco
- Association SAWN de protection des enfants et des adolescents contre la violence et les abus sexuels in Tunisia
- C-SEMA in Tanzania
- ECPAT Brasil
- ECPAT Indonesia
- ECPAT México
- ECPAT Philippines
- ECPAT Foundation Thailand
- Emmanuel Development Association in Ethiopia
- First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi in North Macedonia
- Fundación Renacer in Colombia
- Hope and Help in Armenia
- Jelly Beanz in South Africa
- Justice Center for Legal Aid in Jordan
- Juventas in Montenegro
- Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children
- KIWOHEDE in Tanzania
- Lifeline/Childline Namibia
- Network of Organisations for Children of Serbia (MODS)
- Protection And Help of CHildren Against Abuse & Neglect (PAHCHAAN) in Pakistan
- Rede Da Criança in Mozambique
- Uganda Youth Development Link