What Can You Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online?

The online world is moving fast. In the last three decades, our lives have transformed beyond recognition. From days when we were connecting online from old-LAN computers and cell phones, we now find ourselves immersed in an uncontrolled digital revolution, with Artificial Intelligence and the realms of the Metaverse knocking at our screens.

Yet, as our digital world expands, so do its challenges. Beneath the wonders of the online world lies a darker reality, which contains new forms of dangers such as identity theft, data breaches, violence and discrimination. Worst among these harms, child sexual abuse and exploitation is increasing and evolving every year.

As the digital world hasn’t been designed with child safety in mind, we must do everything we can to patch up this flaw.

Take a Stand for Child Safety Online!

Child sexual abuse and exploitation is happening online, often out of our sight, but with real consequences for the children around us. To prevent harm, it is essential to comprehend the workings of the online world and implement measures that safeguard children from online sexual abuse—without resorting to a complete prohibition of internet access or other restrictive measures. It’s about knowing and using a range of methods and tools to both protect and empower children in their digital lives.

Preventing harm online requires a mix of solutions, including being aware of the issue and its risks, ensuring professional training, listening openly to children’s experiences online, and using technological tools to protect children online.

Scroll Down to Learn how to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online!

With a focus on the tools to prevent child sexual abuse online, ECPAT calls on government officials, tech companies, professionals, and caregivers to unite and activate on this issue. How? The answers lie in becoming aware of the risks and manifestations of child sexual abuse online and learn which tools are available to fight this horrendous crime. It’s a collective responsibility to educate ourselves and act, ensuring children benefit from the internet and are protected from harm.

It’s time to break the silence and protect children online. Together, we can create a digital landscape where children thrive in safety, free from the shadows that threaten their well-being.

Take Action Now and Learn How to Protect Children Online!

Learn more:

Meet ECPAT Project Beacon – Putting children’s rights into the heart of digital policy

What do the EU citizens really think about data privacy and child protection online?

How far are we to ensure Child Safety Online in the EU? A timeline of events.

Towards online child protection in the EU

Why Does Online Child Protection Matter? Here is ECPAT Project Beacon to explain why

ECPAT welcomes European Commission’s proposal to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

Latest activities:

What is ECPAT doing to ensure Child Safety Online in the EU?

What Can You Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online?

As the digital world hasn’t been designed with child safety in mind, we must do everything we can to patch up this flaw.

Take a Stand for Child Safety Online!

Preventing harm online requires a mix of solutions, including being aware of the issue and its risks, ensuring professional training, listening openly to children’s experiences online, and using technological tools to protect children online.

Scroll Down to Learn how to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online!

It’s time to break the silence and protect children online. Together, we can create a digital landscape where children thrive in safety, free from the shadows that threaten their well-being.

Take Action Now and Learn How to Protect Children Online!

Latest activities:

Walking Together: A Toolkit to Explore the Digital Safety of Children on the Move

No Wi-Fi Means No Life: The digital lives, risks, and protection pathways of children on the move

Niger: Analyse situationnelle sur les défis spécifiques liés à l’exploitation et l’abus sexuels des garçons

Burkina Faso: Analyse situationnelle sur les défis spécifiques liés à l’exploitation et l’abus sexuels des garçons

Guinée: Analyse situationnelle sur les défis spécifiques liés à l’exploitation et l’abus sexuels des garçons

Côte d’Ivoire: Analyse situationnelle sur les défis spécifiques liés à l’exploitation et l’abus sexuels des garçons

Children Know Better: Project Reports

Children Know Better: Learning Briefs

Toolkit: Core Component on Creating a Safe Environment

Toolkit: Tools for Participatory Advocacy

Toolkit for Research and Training on Gender Norms and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Boys

Approaches for Youth Engagement in Advocacy on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Egypt — Country Overview

Access to Justice and Legal Remedies for Children Subjected to Sexual Exploitation in Georgia

Access to Justice and Legal Remedies for Children Subjected to Sexual Exploitation in Kazakhstan

Access to Justice and Legal Remedies for Children Subjected to Sexual Exploitation in Uzbekistan

Access to Justice and Legal Remedies for Children Subjected to Sexual Exploitation in Kyrgyzstan

Literature Review – Technology and children on the move or affected by crisis: uses, risks and protection measures

Global Boys Initiative Case Study: Pakistan

Morocco National Workshop: Protect Children in Sports Events

MENA Workshop 2025: Tech-Facilitated Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children

Sexual exploitation of children on the move in the context of Venezuelan migration

Nerfing gender roles and rigid masculinity: A practical guide to gender-sensitive game safety and design

Panorama de País: Venezuela

Global Boys Initiative Case Study: Palestine

Joint ECLAG – DOT Europe Position Paper on Artificial Intelligence generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

Technology-facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Niger

Erbil Workshop Report: Uniting to End Violence Against Children in Iraq

Global Report: The Role of the Informal Sector and the Sharing Economy Within Travel and Tourism in the Prevention and Response to the Sexual Exploitation of Children

Core Competencies Framework for Tourism Education Professionals

Global Case Study: How to regulate the issue of voluntourism with children

Understanding risks and instances of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in urban and rural settings

Addressing the need for comprehensive sexuality and relationships education to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse

Gender considerations in online child sexual exploitation and abuse: a focus on boys

Evaluation of The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism

Girls & Young Women-Led Assessment on Online Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Africa

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation in Central Asia Report

VOICE Child Friendly/Accessible Report

Protecting Children in Travel and Tourism Case Study: Phang Nga, Thailand

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation in Europe Report

ECLAG Memos on the EU Child Sexual Abuse Directive

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation in the Americas: San José Dialogue Report

Nigeria — Country Overview

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: South Asia Regional Workshop Outcome Report

Global Boys Initiative Case Study: Los Angeles, USA

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Regional Workshop: West, Central, and North Africa Outcome Report

Voices of survivors of child sexual exploitation and abuse on justice and effective remedies

Role of Police in Prevention – The Philippines Case Study

Role of Police in Prevention – Indonesia Case Study

Role of Police in Prevention – Global Scoping

Analyse Situationnelle De L’exploitation Sexuelle Des Enfants Dans Le Contexte Des Voyages Et Des Transports En Côte d’Ivoire

Global Boys Initiative Case Study: Calais, France

Gender, Safety, and Help-Seeking Behaviours in Online Gaming Environments – Brief Paper

Analyse Situationnelle De L’exploitation Sexuelle Des Enfants Dans Le Contexte Des Voyages Et Des Transports Au Burkina Faso

Analyse Situationnelle De L’exploitation Sexuelle Des Enfants Dans Le Contexte Des Voyages Et Des Transports en Guinée

Executive Summary – VOICE Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Regional Workshop: Bangkok Outcome Report

National Workshop Tunisia: Uniting to end violence against children in Tunisia

National Workshop Jordan: Uniting to end violence against children in Jordan

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts: Case Study Kenya

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts: Case Study Ethiopia

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts: Case Study Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts – Executive Summary

Respuestas a la explotación sexual de niñas, niños y adolescentes en el contexto humanitario generado por la crisis de migración venezolana: Caso de Perú y Colombia

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Humanitarian Contexts: Global Research

VOICE Report – Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences

Action Report: Shifting the Narrative To Build a Culture of Child Safety In Online Gaming

Italy — Joint Country Overview

ECPAT joins forces with DOT Europe, CCIA and 50+ tech trade associations and NGOs with a joint statement to the European Union

Child protection standards in the travel and tourism industry: the experience of Mexico and Colombia

Outcome Report: Unpacking the Gender Dimensions of Risky, Harmful, and Help-Seeking Behavior in Online Gaming Environments

Engaging with children to strengthen sustainable tourism strategies that prevent child sexual exploitation