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Brave Movement Campaign
Out of the Shadows Index
Out of the Shadows Index
Hold governments accountable with a new global benchmark that shows exactly what they are – or aren’t – doing to end sexual violence against children and adolescents.
Launched at the World Health Assembly and researched and developed by Economist Impact, the 2026 Out of the Shadows Index assesses how 60 countries across 6 regions are preventing and responding to sexual violence against children and adolescents.
The findings are stark. The message is clear: we are failing them.
52.6
The average national Index score out of 100 – well below what is needed to keep kids and teens safe.
Prevention efforts fall short
Although more investment is needed across the board, most governments are more focused on responding to harm than on preventing it in the first place.
It’s not about wealth
A country’s wealth alone doesn’t protect children – political will and action do.
Explore the Index
The Index ranks 60 countries across 6 regions, which together are home to 83% of the world’s children.
It assesses nations on publicly available laws, policies, programs, and services governments need to end childhood sexual violence across four areas: Governance and Accountability (coordinated national action); Prevention (child protection); Healing (high-quality care); and Justice (strong legal systems).
✔ See how your country ranks against others in your region.
✔ Explore how it is performing on key issues such as National Survivor Councils, abolition of Statutes of Limitation, and online safety reforms.
✔ Access ready-to-use advocacy tools to turn the Index into national commitments.
Advocacy tools to help you take action
We know what needs to happen; now we need leaders to take action. Use the Index to influence the people who make your country’s decisions.
Check out these easy-to-use tools – from factsheets to email templates and meeting scripts – to advocate for change with your political leaders, including for sustained, financial investments.
With survivors and allies at the table, we can drive truly effective reforms.
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Meeting guide
This meeting guide is designed to help survivor advocates and allies secure commitments from decision-makers.
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Email templates
Ready-to-adapt outreach and follow-up emails for advocacy.
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Finance advocacy: Governance and accountability
This document helps you turn Index findings into a concrete investment case and budget ‘ask’.
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Finance advocacy: Prevention
This document helps you turn Index findings into a concrete investment case and budget ‘ask’.
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Finance advocacy: Healing
This document helps you turn Index findings into a concrete investment case and budget ‘ask’.
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Finance advocacy: Justice
This document helps you turn Index findings into a concrete investment case and budget ‘ask’.
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Minister brief: Health
Get specific guidance for Health Ministers on the Index key indicators for ending sexual violence against children and adolescents.
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Minister brief: Child protection
Get guidance for Child Protection Ministers on the Index key indicators for ending sexual violence against children and adolescents.
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Fact sheet: Governance and accountability
This fact sheet explains what the Governance and Accountability pillar tracks, the scores, and how to use the findings in your advocacy.
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Fact sheet: Prevention
This fact sheet explains what the Prevention pillar tracks, what the scores mean, and how to use the findings in your advocacy.
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Fact sheet: Healing
This fact sheet explains what the Healing pillar measures, what the scores mean, and how to use the findings in your advocacy.
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Fact sheet: Justice
This fact sheet explains what the Justice pillar tracks offline and online, the scores, and how to use the findings in your advocacy.
