UK Government commits to combatting online sexual exploitation and abuse of children and violence against women and girls
Bogotá, Colombia | 7th November 2024
IJM applauds the UK Government's recent pledges to tackle online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSAEC) and combat violence against women and girls, announced during the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.
These commitments represent crucial steps toward safeguarding children globally, both in the physical world and online.
With an estimated 300 million children having experienced OSAEC, IJM recognizes the critical role of technological solutions in addressing this form of abuse—especially as technology-enabled crimes, such as livestreamed abuse, continue to rise.
The UK has the potential to lead the way in blocking and preventing these horrific crimes.
As IJM advocates for international leaders to act on this urgent issue, we fully support the UK's focus on sharing insights, implementing robust legislation, and leveraging AI technology to detect and prevent online child sexual abuse.
In the face of rising global abuse, proactive innovation from tech partners—alongside legislation that mandates detection and prevention—will be essential to building a safer future for children worldwide.
We also commend the UK Government's broader ambition to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade and to work across sectors internationally to promote evidence-based, survivor-centred approaches to violence prevention.
A UNICEF report in 2024 revealed that more than 370 million girls and women alive today have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. Furthermore, when including non-contact forms of sexual abuse—such as online or verbal abuse—these numbers rise to 650 million globally. These staggering statistics underscore the urgent need for coordinated, global action.
As part of the UK’s efforts to combat this crime, IJM strongly advocates for increased access to justice, along with trauma-informed, victim-centred procedures within justice systems to prevent revictimization and ensure the long-term safety of survivors.
We also call for a steadfast commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.
Let’s come together to #EndViolenceAgainstChildren and ensure every child’s right to safety, everywhere.