The report examines child sexual exploitation and abuse online across six countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Mexico, Moldova, Peru) by centering the perspectives of survivors and frontline workers. It finds that online sexual exploitation is widespread, often under‑reported, and frequently facilitated by people within children’s circles of trust rather than strangers. Survivors face major barriers to disclosure, including shame, stigma, fear of being blamed, lack of awareness of reporting mechanisms, and failures by institutions to protect anonymity. Support services are inconsistent: legal assistance is often helpful but slow, psychological support is valued but insufficient, and schools frequently lack training to identify abuse. Frontline workers report limited community awareness and insufficient professional training.
Methodology
The study uses a multi‑method, survivor‑centred approach across six countries. It includes survivor conversations with 42 young adults aged 18-23; frontline worker survey with 413 child-protection workers who completed a 108-question survey; and an expert roundtable with 19 global experts who reviewed preliminary findings and provided additional insights.
Citation
ECPAT International and WeProtect Global Alliance. (2022). Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Online: Survivors Perspectives. WeProtect Global Alliance.
Record created:
15 September 2026
The report examines child sexual exploitation and abuse online across six countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Mexico, Moldova, Peru) by centering the perspectives of survivors and frontline workers. It finds that online sexual exploitation is widespread, often under‑reported, and frequently facilitated by people within children’s circles of trust rather than strangers. Survivors face major barriers to disclosure, including shame, stigma, fear of being blamed, lack of awareness of reporting mechanisms, and failures by institutions to protect anonymity. Support services are inconsistent: legal assistance is often helpful but slow, psychological support is valued but insufficient, and schools frequently lack training to identify abuse. Frontline workers report limited community awareness and insufficient professional training.
Methodology
The study uses a multi‑method, survivor‑centred approach across six countries. It includes survivor conversations with 42 young adults aged 18-23; frontline worker survey with 413 child-protection workers who completed a 108-question survey; and an expert roundtable with 19 global experts who reviewed preliminary findings and provided additional insights.
Citation
ECPAT International and WeProtect Global Alliance. (2022). Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Online: Survivors Perspectives. WeProtect Global Alliance.
Record created:
15 September 2026- child sexual abuse material (CSAM) child sexual exploitation (CSE)
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