In January, I got a call from the Red Dot Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization based in India. They wanted to know whether anyone I knew was a victim of digital sexual abuse and would be willing to participate in a global documentary about it. It felt like a sign, a chance to finally tell the story I’d been keeping to myself and whispering to only a few close friends for the past several years. Without hesitation, I answered, “I’ll do it!”

I have never doubted that what happened to me was not my fault. I was fourteen years old and had no idea how social media worked, let alone owning an account. I was blindsided when a senior at school received texts on Instagram about me, with the other person talking about my body and me as if they’d witnessed me in ways no one ever had, done things to me that, in reality, no one had even come close to doing. I was ashamed for a long time, yes. But I was never guilty. I was an innocent victim of something I had no control over, and I believed that from within.

Unfortunately, I know many others are not that lucky. Survivors are often made to feel embarrassed and guilty by people around them, by the perpetrators, and even by the law. They must understand that speaking up  does not  make them the ‘bad guy.’ There will always be people who will believe them, relate with them, and empathize with their experiences. And that is what led me to share my story as a survivor.

I said this at the film launch in London, and I will say it repeatedly – the entire process of making the documentary felt like a warm hug. I was understandably apprehensive at first. Being from a small town, I had little exposure to social work or opportunities like this. But my fears were instantly allayed when we started outlining the action plan for the film. The Brave Movement team repeatedly reassured us (the survivors) that this documentary would be an honest portrayal of our reality. There will be no dramatics for the camera no unrealistic cinematographical expectations.

We were informed that we would get the support we needed, but nothing would be pushed onto us. That idea of autonomy is quite crucial. As I began writing a script, I felt at ease and confident in my convictions, and six months later, I felt the same way as I participated in the panel to introduce the documentary. What was most surprising to me was that the filming of my section of the film was done in my home and surrounding aesthetic landmarks. That highly speaks to the Brave Movement’s commitment to putting survivors first and at the center. As a Psychology student, keeping track of mental wellness is very important.  The Brave Movement also provided us with sessions with a trauma specialist at any point throughout the process (and even after) to ensure that we had a safe and trauma-informed space to regulate any triggers that may come up as we shared our stories.  I felt supported by the Brave Movement throughout the whole process, including regular check-ins from staff who are also publicly declared survivors.

Survivor-centered conversations are happening more and more as society begins to understand the gravity of childhood sexual abuse. But from my experience, the Brave Movement lives its survivor-centered approach mission. Through the guidance of its fourteen  Survivor Advocates Globally Empowered (SAGE) co-founders, These survivor advocates have accomplished what is, in my opinion, the most crucial step in fighting against child sexual abuse by uniting against perpetrators. Moving from a place of ‘bystander’ to a position of ‘ally’ is precisely needed to start seeing change. It will not come easy, and it will probably take years to get to even an arbitrary notion of a safe society. But it is a start and a very good one at that. I believe that the efforts of organizations and governments worldwide will culminate in positive results. My engagement with the Brave movement is my first step toward contributing to that effort.

Creating a community that is so non-judgemental and welcoming is an arduous task. Expanding it to a global phenomenon is even more challenging. I am, and always will be, a proud Brave member. And I hope you will join us on the journey if you need to.

The film #BeyondTheScreen: Hidden Voices of Online Abuse” is out now! If you haven’t already seen it, kindly visit https://www.bravemovement.org/online-safety/  

In light of African Women’s Day, we are spotlighting two members of the Brave Movement Africa platform, Dr. Bukola Ogunkua and Lorraine Ong’injo, to highlight the unique challenges and triumphs of African Women and the vital role they play in breaking the silence, advocating for justice, and building a future free from violence and abuse for all children. 

This day is celebrated annually on July 31st to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of African Women. The day is meant to serve as a platform to highlight women’s vital role in different spheres of life, from politics and education to health and socio-economic development. 

Echoes of Strength: Surviving and Thriving

By: Lorraine Ong’injo

Significant challenges and profound growth have marked my journey through healing from childhood sexual violence. The emotional and psychological impact left deep scars, leading to feelings of worthlessness and self-blame. Social stigma, isolation, and lack of immediate resources for survivors compounded my struggles, making it difficult for me to seek help.

Despite these challenges, I found a path to healing. Joining a local support group provided a safe space for sharing and solidarity. Professional therapy and counseling were crucial in confronting my trauma, developing coping mechanisms, and rebuilding my self-esteem. Advocacy and empowerment became a significant part of my journey, giving me purpose and strength. By sharing my story and working with Brave Africa, I found strength in helping others and creating safer environments for children. Embracing cultural practices that promote healing, such as education to suppress child marriages and art therapy, also played a significant role in my recovery.

My story highlights the importance of support, professional help, advocacy, and cultural practices in healing from trauma. My dedication to helping others and creating positive change is a testament to the resilience and strength that can emerge from even the darkest experiences.

Today, I am a proud member of the Brave Movement Africa and co-chair of the Brave Movement Kenya platform. With the support of our founding members, I have played a crucial role in establishing a platform for survivors of sexual violence. At least 25 organizations have come together to support survivors, providing them with resources, counseling, and a community of understanding and support.

I also convened the survivors of sexual violence network under the Wangu Kanja Foundation in Nairobi and founded the ReBuilding Community Organization. This community-based organization champions the right to education to suppress child marriages, addressing harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation and child marriages. I use my voice to raise awareness about childhood sexual violence and advocate for stronger protections for children. My journey has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. I have seen firsthand the impact that sharing our stories can have on others, inspiring hope and encouraging others to speak out.

Some of the ways that I take action include public speaking and awareness campaigns, through which I share my story and raise awareness about childhood sexual violence at numerous events. I also conduct policy advocacy work by engaging institutions in implementing the Child Protection Policy (CPP), and facilitating support groups, which are safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences, find their voice, and gain confidence. Finally, I organize and conduct workshops for educators, parents, and community leaders on recognizing and preventing childhood sexual violence.

My work has empowered countless survivors to speak out and seek help, raised awareness about childhood sexual violence within and beyond the community, brought stronger legal protections for children, and increased accountability for perpetrators through policy changes. I have fostered a supportive community through the Brave Movement, creating a network of survivors and allies. I have also contributed to cultural shifts by promoting healing practices and encouraging open dialogues about childhood sexual violence.

In the future, I plan to expand the Brave Movement Kenya and envision our organization will grow to support even more survivors across Kenya and beyond. As part of these efforts, it is essential to establish more local chapters and resources to provide comprehensive support. I aspire to enhance support services to survivors through counseling, legal assistance, and educational programs. I also aim to push for localizing policies to the grassroots, promote better enforcement of existing laws, and consistently encourage prevention through online and offline advocacy and online safety. Furthermore, I plan to train on digital security and promote intercultural bonding through exchanges. On a personal level, I aspire to continue growing and learning, pursuing further education and training in trauma, counseling, and advocacy to help contribute effectively.

My journey as an advocate against childhood sexual violence is far from over. I am committed to making a lasting impact with these goals and aspirations. By expanding our reach, enhancing support services, and continuing to raise awareness, I believe we can create a world where every child is safe, and every survivor is heard and supported.

Childhood sexual violence is a pervasive issue that affects countless children globally. As survivors and advocates, we have the power to create change, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help to make a lasting impact. Join the Brave Movement today.

To anyone reading this who has experienced similar pain, know you are not alone. There is hope and healing beyond the darkness. Reach out for support, whether it’s through therapy, friends, or support groups. Your voice matters; your story can help others find their way to the light. Together, we can break the silence and create a world where no one has to suffer in silence.

Brave Movement: Chasing Solutions for Childhood Adversities

By: Dr. Bukola Ogunkua MD, MPH, MHS, LPC, CCTP, CPRP, FAAETS

Even though I have excelled in practically all endeavors that I set out to do and have succeeded in new learning, I continued to have flashbacks of certain events from my childhood and a wave of residual anger about certain things, especially when stressed.

My name is Dr. Bukola Ogunkua (Dr. B). I am a Public Health physician, population health researcher, licensed counseling psychologist, and child trauma expert. I was introduced to Trauma theory in 2001 at an outpatient clinic for men. The concept of recovery and the aspect of helping men develop the vocabulary for the emotional and relational issues stemming from child abuse and neglect felt familiar, and I could relate to the men’s problems, too. Some of the adversities they reluctantly described were familiar. I often wondered about the men’s discussions and focused on what occurred to them as children and teens. I was curious to ask them more, but instinctively, I knew it was too painful to probe them. So, I waited for them to talk when they felt like sharing their experiences in group sessions or while smoking outside. It was a safe space, and they were not feeling alone in their struggles anymore, even if it was for a moment.

Later, I stumbled across the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study while seeking solutions for why children and youths with challenging behaviors kept returning to old behaviors after treatment. At first, I thought the ACE test was initially confusing for me because the questions were not quite applicable to me, but I completed the test anyway. My score later made clearer the logical sequence of behavioral progression I had, which helped me understand the trauma concept better. I can now see the protective factors that steered me towards academic excellence despite my high ACEs. I now understand why I have flashbacks when I am under stress.

My curiosity for solutions and understanding the ACE score led me to a second master’s thesis in Human Services Counseling in 2007. My only goal was to seek a solution to ACEs in children. I wanted to know the scope, causes, contributory factors, and treatments. What my research study uncovered as a significant factor in 2009 was the lack of knowledge and awareness of ACES by the people who were serving the children and the inadvertent re-traumatization of the youths by the same people hired to help them.

I have since developed trauma-informed curricula for all adults who encounter children in their line of work. I continue to learn and internalize the solutions others have tried and in this quest for knowledge, I have become a better me. I have moved from an authoritarian parent to an authoritative parent of three adult children, with a second chance of helping to shape the development of my four grandchildren and all other children I meet. All the above is what led to seeking change agents and I hope you will join me in sharing your experiences and practices of triumph over adversity.

Thank you for joining us on African Women’s Day and reading about the personal stories, achievements, challenges and aspirations of two of the inspiring members in Brave Africa. Stay tuned for updates from Brave Africa by following them on social media.

By Dr Tabitha Mpamira, founder and CEO of Mutera Global Healing, co-founder

Nearly half of Africa’s current population is under 18, according to UNICEF data. Steady growth in births and declining mortality rates globally will bring Africa’s child population to 1 billion by 2055. Nowhere else in the world is the number of children growing in this way.

Despite Africa’s projected population growth over the next 30 years, UNESCO‘s research shows that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion in the world. More than one-fifth of children aged 6 to 11 are out of school, followed by one-third of youth aged 12 to 14.  This rapid population growth presents both challenges and opportunities and has several implications relating to sexual violence, particularly against children.

As the population grows, schools may become overcrowded and under-resourced, making it difficult to provide a safe and conducive learning environment which can lead to increased bullying, harassment, and potential for sexual violence between peers and amongst teachers.

Violence against children is a global human rights violation that spans every country worldwide.  It is estimated that over 1 billion children globally experience physical, sexual, or emotional violence annually. The Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS) conducted across several countries demonstrate a high regional prevalence of violence against children. For example, the prevalence of childhood sexual violence across seven countries in the region ranges from 25% to 38% for females and from 9% to 18% for males.

Childhood sexual violence is a pervasive and deeply troubling issue in Africa. It impacts millions of children across the Continent. Protecting the future of African children from sexual abuse is critical to fostering a secure and supportive learning environment. This requires a multi-faceted approach involving policy, community engagement, education, and sound support systems.

In times of great stress, or trauma, the brain activates its deeply instinctive “fight, flight, or freeze” responses while dialing down the areas of the brain where learning takes place.

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, chronic exposure to traumatic events, especially during a child’s early years, can: adversely affect attention, memory, and cognition. It reduces a child’s ability to focus, organize, process information and interferes with their effective problem-solving and planning.

In 2015, on a visit to volunteer in Southwestern Uganda, I encountered a second-grade student who had been raped the day before. Although the girl’s family knew about the rape and knew her 35-year-old assailant, there were many barriers to getting her the help she needed and deserved including something as little as $5 that would have provided the required medical care to prevent illnesses.

This girl and many others inspired me to be brave enough to speak up about my own story. I set up Mutera Global Healing to ensure that children were safe, protected, and able to secure an education that would lift them out of these traumatizing situations.

As a survivor for 27 years and a mental health therapist for 15 years, it was not my professional training, family, community, or friends that prompted me to process my trauma. It was the bravery of other survivors. They reminded me that I wasn’t alone and ignited a hope for a possible future where children are safe and free from sexual violence. Each one of us can play a role in making that future a reality.

Having experienced trauma myself as a child, I understand that vulnerable children, if they have any hopes of recovering, need medical, legal, and mental health support but, most importantly, a safe community that will lay the groundwork for them to thrive to reintegrate themselves into society and be mentally sound to be adequately educated.

Ensuring children are safe to learn involves creating an environment where they are protected from various forms of violence and can focus on their education without fear.

Survivors of childhood sexual violence can play a significant role in safeguarding the future of African children, ensuring they are safe to learn. Their involvement can provide valuable insights from lived experience, foster empathy, and drive impactful change within their diverse expertise.

Now, I am fighting for a world in which trauma does not define its victims. It is possible to heal and thrive as a survivor of childhood sexual violence, but some barriers must be broken down to speed up that process. Here’s how I think we can do it.

By strengthening legal frameworks, raising awareness, creating safe trauma-informed learning environments, providing support services, engaging communities, addressing root causes, and fostering international cooperation, we can build a protective environment where every child can learn and thrive without fear. This collective effort requires the investment of governments, Non-Governmental Organizations, communities, schools, and international bodies to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach to ending sexual violence against children. “The question is not whether we can afford to invest in our children; it is whether we can afford not to.” Marian Edelman

The Day of the African Child (DAC) is an annual event observed on June 16th to honor the memory of students who participated in the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa. These brave children protested against the poor quality of education they were receiving and demanded the right to be taught in their languages. Tragically, many were killed during the protests. This day now serves as an opportunity to focus on African children’s plight, rights, and education.

 Conclusion

Safeguarding the future of African children from sexual violence is essential for their safety and educational success. Safety in the learning environment is integral to their mental, emotional, physical, and social development. Guaranteeing safety in schools is a fundamental responsibility of educators, communities, and governments, and it is essential for building a better, more equitable future for all children. We each can be brave so that our children can be safe. As the African proverb states, alone, you can go fast; together, we can go far. I invite you to join all of us survivors on this journey of ending childhood sexual violence, so we can go as far as eradicating it.

Washington, D.C., May 31, 2024 – The Brave Movement has welcomed the publication of “Nothing About Us Without Us” by the Council of Europe – a policy on engaging with victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

The guidelines were designed by Brave Movement co-founder Professor S Caroline Taylor AM and Sophie Otiende, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery and the founder of Azadi, a survivor-led initiative in Kenya, who are both survivor advocates for ending childhood sexual violence.

The policy seeks to provide governments and organizations with the right methods and tools to enable survivor-centered engagement on the topic of ending childhood sexual violence. It is imperative that survivors are at the forefront of this discussion and for that to happen, they need to be engaged in the right way.

“As the authors of this policy we thank the Council of Europe and Lanzarote Commission for the opportunity to develop this critically important and unique policy. Childhood sexual violence and exploitation is an urgent and unremitting issue across the globe. Genuine and strategic engagement with survivor advocates in the development, design and implementation of policy, legislation and programmes are key to eradicating these heinous crimes against children.  Survivor advocates possess a wealth of diverse professional skills and lived experience expertise capable of enhancing policy and programme design and increasing survivor confidence in the wider community”, said Professor S Caroline Taylor AM and Sophie Otiende.

“Our vision in designing this policy was to provide governments and organizations with a key tool that will enable authentic and successful survivor-centered engagement. It is vital that the good will and momentum underpinning this policy is maintained to ensure realization of goals of the policy.  We hope that in adopting this policy, governments and organizations will seek the training expertise of survivor advocates to assist organizations in putting this policy into action”.

They added: “As survivor advocates we are proud to have been given the task of writing this unique world first policy on engaging childhood survivors of sexual violence and exploitation as co-creators, co-designers and expert advisors on the policies, legislation and programmes that directly impact all survivors.”

Brave Founder and CEO of Together for Girls Dr Daniela Ligiero said:

“The title of this new policy is exactly right. There are clear solutions which would see children better protected, more justice for survivors achieved and better support for healing and trauma relief. But survivors of child sexual violence must always be included in finding these solutions, bringing their expertise and lived experience into shaping improved policies, programmes and approaches.”

Childhood sexual violence and exploitation is an escalating issue and epidemic which demands urgent action and the need to engage victims and survivors in the fight to end this issue needs to be addressed. This new policy provides the tools for this to happen in an effective way.

About the Brave Movement
Hosted by Together for Girls, the Brave Movement is a survivor-led global movement campaigning to end childhood sexual violence. It is led by 14 powerful survivors and allied partners. It is demanding bold and transformative action to mobilize billions for programs focused on prevention, healing and justice worldwide, abolish statutes of limitation in every nation, and create a safer internet for children.

Media Contact: Marek Pruszewicz – marek@togetherforgirls.org

A blog by Brave co-founder Mie Kohiyama

As a survivor of childhood sexual violence, I know the impact of gaps in policy and practice to protect children. As a survivor and activist, I know that sexual violence is a global health emergency, from my own health experience to those of my peers and fellow survivors. As a campaigner and an activist, I know that the first-ever  Global Ministerial Conference on Violence against Children to end violence against children is a potential game changer, an opportunity for the world to come together, to be brave, bold and protect children so what happened to me does not happen to them, ever.

In this context, I participated in the 77th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. I spoke at the high-level event to start the political mobilization ahead of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mobilize action to keep children safe.

The Ministerial, which will take place in Bogota, Colombia, on November 7th and 8th, will be hosted by the Governments of Colombia and Sweden, in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Ending Violence against Children. The event’s historic nature and potential impact are reasons the Brave Movement is providing support to mobilize action and awareness around it.

The high-level side event started with the Governments of Colombia and Sweden setting out their ambition for the global ministerial conference. Ambassador Gustavo Gallon from Colombia spoke of how a world free from violence is possible and essential to achieving sustainable development. He set out the ambition for this conference to catalyse transformative change.

Ambassador Anna Jardfelt from Sweden followed by highlighting how their long-standing commitment to ending violence against children has proven time and again how children can excel in other areas of their lives if they are not affected by violence. She also noted that “human rights also exist online” how online violence is of critical importance, and the importance of protecting the most vulnerable children.

As the only public survivor speaking on the panel, I was up next and took the opportunity to share my experience and expertise. To highlight the harsh realities of what it means to have experienced violence as a child, and to call for urgent action at the Ministerial. I consider myself fortunate to even be able to speak in front of the World Health Assembly due to the health impact of child sexual violence, with survivors being at a higher risk of dying prematurely before 50 years old whether it is because of harmful physical or mental health, or unfortunately because of suicide.

I’m 52 years old. I was raped when I was 5 by an adult cousin. I had 32 years of repressed memory and suffered PTSD when memories of the rape surged. I was also affected by well-documented impacts of child sexual violence: anorexia, school phobia, depression and addiction.  I shared this with the Assembly to underline that child sexual violence is a major health issue, with a tremendous cost on children, the adults they become, and societies as a whole.

I also used my opportunity to call for the creation of national survivors councils in every country, based on the inspiring German model, and for governments to commit to this at the Ministerial. The survivor’s councils would enable survivors to participate in shaping public policies to fight child sexual violence. Further, I noted the importance of considering child sexual violence online as a priority issue. Each second at least three images or videos of child sexual violence are shared online. Survivors of these crimes are being retraumatized each time these images are shared. Children’s rights must be guaranteed online and the internet must be better regulated.

After my remarks, I was delighted to pass the floor to Zewelanji, a youth activist from Zambia who spoke to the reality of so many children today who are experiencing a wide range of violence in a school setting and early forced marriage. She made a powerful plea “ Why are children suffering sexual violence at the hands of their parents? All children must be safe from sexual violence!”

There were then some important framing remarks by the other co-hosts, UNICEF and the WHO. UNICEF noted its role in facilitating the National Preparatory Process, which will set out the national pledges and commitments and the core transformative content that will come out of the conference. Survivors are keen to engage in these processes to ensure their expertise and experiences inform future plans.  WHO spoke about the priority outcomes of the conference, including noting that CSOs, survivors, children and youth are primary actors.

To that end, the Brave Movement has developed some best practice guidelines for the global Ministerial conference.

In the discussions after the panel, there was a significant focus on how violence is preventable, there is evidence and solutions. But while these exist, at the same time violence against children continues to plague every corner of our world. We need more political commitment, we need more funding for violence prevention and we need more cross-sectoral collaboration, to fight against impunity which enables these crimes to continue.

So I say again, this Ministerial can be a game changer: we must not miss this historic opportunity to protect children.

Washington, D.C., May 21, 2024 –  The Brave Movement has welcomed a move by shareholders to raise concerns at Meta’s annual meeting about the social media giant’s approach to child safety.

Meta Shareholder Lisette Cooper PhD, vice chair, has filed a resolution for shareholders to vote on at the annual meeting in Menlo Park, California on May 29, 2024.

Dr. Cooper’s daughter Sarah, is a founding member of the Brave Movement. She is a survivor of child sexual abuse by an older man who misrepresented himself on Facebook Messenger. Sarah Cooper has spoken at two of Meta’s previous annual meetings.

The proposal, filed on behalf of Dr. Cooper and other Meta shareholders by Proxy Impact, calls on Meta’s Board of Directors to adopt targets for reducing harm to children on its social media platforms within one year, as well as quantitative measures for assessing the company’s improvement in this area. The resolution sets out expectations for the Board to publish the metrics in an annual report and for the company to be judged by investors and stakeholders on how effective Meta’s policies and actions have been in protecting children.

In 13 countries alone, more than 5 million internet using children aged 12 to 17, representing up to 20% of this age group, have experienced online sexual abuse and exploitation in a year.

Recent data highlights the unprecedented levels of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, with the Internet Watch Foundation identifying 2023 as the ‘most extreme year on record’ for child abuse content online.

“Meta is the leading social media company globally, with billions of users but its platforms are posing a threat and harming the safety of children. We support this shareholder resolution and welcome this crucial first step, and the efforts by campaigners and survivors to achieve it – but there is much more to be done. Protecting the safety of children should be prioritized and we will continue to work until we see an end to the harm children face online globally.” – said Dr. Daniela Ligiero, Founder of the Brave Movement.

Online child sexual exploitation and abuse is an escalating issue, not just a challenge; it is an epidemic which demands urgent action. We call on the global tech industry to take bold steps in committing to ending violence against children. The design of digital platforms and services needs to be ‘safe by design’ with children’s safety put at the centre of design and development decisions, rather than the status quo that sees their safety as an afterthought, or not thought at all. Technology companies must adopt a vulnerability lens in their design, development and business processes and do more to advance the adoption of ‘age oriented online safety’ and ‘user protection’ to prevent harm from occurring in the first place. Online violence is preventable, and we cannot afford to delay this any longer. The time for action is now!

About the Brave Movement
Hosted by Together for Girls, the Brave Movement is a survivor-led global movement campaigning to end childhood sexual violence. It is led by 14 powerful survivors and allied partners. It is demanding bold and transformative action to mobilize billions for programs focused on prevention, healing and justice worldwide, abolish statutes of limitation in every nation, and create a safer internet for children.

Media Contact: Marek Pruszewicz – marek@togetherforgirls.org

By Kanga Rasi, Head of Region, Africa- Brave Movement

The 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57) recently concluded, marking the thirtieth anniversary of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). This milestone event provided a critical platform to assess progress, identify persistent challenges, and chart a future course to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain central to sustainable development efforts.

The Legacy of the ICPD: Progress and Persistent Challenges

Over the past three decades, the ICPD has significantly influenced global health and development policies, leading to notable improvements in maternal health, longevity, and overall well-being. However, as highlighted during CPD57, progress has been uneven and often fails to reach the most marginalized communities. Particularly concerning is the ongoing issue of sexual violence against children, both offline and online, a grave violation that demands urgent attention and action.

Integrating SRHR in Humanitarian Responses

As Diana Moreno emphasized at the conference, integrating SRHR into humanitarian responses is crucial, especially in times of crisis. The vulnerabilities of women and girls are exacerbated during such periods, making it imperative to ensure their protection and access to necessary health services. This integration is a moral obligation and a strategic necessity for building resilient communities.

Addressing Sexual Violence Against Children: A Survivor-Centric Approach

Sexual violence against children remains a distressing reality worldwide, necessitating a survivor-centric approach in both policy and practice. This violence occurs both offline and online, with the latter becoming increasingly prevalent in our digital age. It is vital to create safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences and receive comprehensive support, including medical care, psychological counselling, and legal assistance. Healing for survivors is crucial, requiring long-term, sensitive, and trauma-informed care to help them rebuild their lives. Preventive measures must be strengthened through education, community engagement, and robust legal frameworks to protect children from abuse in all its forms.

Looking Ahead: The Summit of the Future

The upcoming Summit of the Future in September 2024 offers a unique opportunity to build on the discussions at CPD57 and further advance the ICPD agenda. This summit aims to enhance global cooperation on critical challenges, reaffirm existing commitments, and address gaps in global governance. It is an ideal platform to reinforce the importance of SRHR and the protection of children from sexual violence within the broader context of sustainable development.

Linking ICPD30 to the Summit of the Future

The momentum generated by the thirtieth anniversary of the ICPD must carry forward to the Summit of the Future. By aligning the objectives of CPD57 with the summit’s goals, we can ensure a cohesive approach to tackling current and emerging challenges. The Pact for the Future, the outcome document of the summit, should incorporate concrete measures to advance SRHR, protect children from violence, and promote gender equality.

Reaffirming Our Commitments

The declaration adopted at CPD57 reaffirms the commitments made at the ICPD and emphasizes the need for renewed political will, increased investment, and enhanced international cooperation. As we prepare for the Summit of the Future, it is essential to translate these commitments into actionable strategies that address the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The anniversary of the ICPD is not just a moment for reflection but a call to action. As Oluwatoyin I. M. Chukwudozie aptly stated, “When women lead, they transform lives.” It is incumbent upon all stakeholders—governments, international organizations, civil society, and individuals—to work collaboratively towards a future where SRHR are universally upheld, and every child is protected from violence and exploitation.

Addressing sexual violence against children, both offline and online, is a critical part of this effort. Ensuring that survivors receive the healing and support they need is paramount. As we move towards the Summit of the Future, let us harness this opportunity to create a more equitable, just, and sustainable world. The path ahead is challenging, but with collective effort and unwavering commitment, we can achieve the vision set forth at the ICPD thirty years ago and build a better future for generations to come.