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.

Noelle Museshi Murunga | Brave Movement Africa Advocacy Officer 

When I first started my career as an advocate for youth and adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health, I was confronted with the harsh truth that young adolescent girls had to endure abuse to get access to menstrual hygiene management products.

The painful reality of teenage girls having to transact sex for pads is one particular experience that has stuck with me ever since. It was even more depressing to learn that transactional sex was deeply ingrained in their culture, with community matriarchs and grandmothers supporting the scourge, demonstrating how pervasive child sexual abuse is engrained in society.

The Disconnect between Policy and Practice

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) stands as a pivotal regional human rights instrument, purposefully adopted by the African Union to address issues of protecting and safeguarding the rights and the wellbeing of children in Africa. Despite the ratification of the Charter by 50 African Union member states, the persisting prevalence of childhood sexual violence serves as a vital reminder of the gap between legislative mandates and real-life outcomes.

Last month, the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and  Welfare of Children (ACERWC) convened for its 43rd Ordinary Session in Maseru, Lesotho. The ACERWC serves as the designated organ of the African Union tasked with overseeing the enforcement of the Charter and advancing the cause of children’s rights throughout the continent. While acknowledging the strides made by member states in safeguarding the rights of children, there remains a substantial disparity in addressing violence against them.

Childhood Sexual Violence: A Public Health Emergency

The launch of the Teenage Pregnancy Report during the 43rd Ordinary Session highlighted the urgent need for action against child sexual violence. Data from the Violence Against Children Surveys (VACs) painted the grim reality that child sexual violence is a public health emergency that requires immediate action. The report exposed alarming trends:

• Rape escalated the prevalence of teenage pregnancies
• There is a well-established connection between child marriage and teenage pregnancy. It is underscored by the fact that 80% of teenage mothers in most African countries are married or co-habit with a male partner
• Online sexual abuse and exposure to sexual content played a significant role in driving teenage pregnancy. Between 2019 and 2020, child-generated sexual material increased by 77%, and reports of online sexual exploitation surged by 100%.
• Even when survivors of sexual abuse and violence report the incidents, they often struggle to receive the necessary redress for future prevention, healing and justice.

This isn’t just a concern—it’s a critical emergency demanding swift response and we cannot afford to wait!

The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Every moment counts in protecting our children. AU member states need to prioritize combating child sexual abuse and all forms of violence against children, both online and offline.

Ending Sexual Violence in schools is  a conduit for promoting Agenda 2063 through Education

This year’s African Union theme, “Education for All Children in Africa,” highlights a critical imperative, yet research reveals that schools remain hotspots for violence against children. For the African child to benefit fully from quality education as outlined in Aspiration 6 of Africa’s Agenda 2040 for Children, we must ensure that educational environments are safe environments for learning.

Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse for the future, has laid the foundation for action. Aspiration 6 emphasizes the centrality of people-driven development, particularly leveraging the potential of African women, youth, and, crucially, children. Recognizing the gendered nature of violence, Aspiration 6 underscores the urgency of eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women, girls and children.

Central to this vision is the prerequisite that safe schools are foundational to quality education. Schools bear the responsibility of preventing violence against children, with teachers and staff serving as custodians of their safety. Therefore, it is vital to provide comprehensive training to educators on child protection and safeguarding measures, ensuring their effective implementation within school environments.

The Time to Act is Now!

Addressing childhood sexual violence in Africa requires a collective effort involving not only individual nations but also regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and the broader international community. While each African nation and community may face distinct challenges and manifestations of violence, there are overarching norms, such as the gendered nature of violence, and prevalent forms of abuse like female genital mutilation (FGM), forced child marriage, and online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), that demand urgent attention.

This complex issue necessitates bold and coordinated actions from all sectors. It’s not a task that falls solely on the shoulders of one entity; rather, it requires a united front and concerted efforts from governments, civil society, international organizations, and local communities to bring about the transformative change needed to protect the rights and well-being of Africa’s children. A pan-African response is therefore necessary to effectively address violence in all its forms across Africa

The inclusion of survivor voices within the AU will also play a critical and distinct role in ending childhood sexual violence. Quoting one of our survivor advocates,

As we anticipate the upcoming 44th Ordinary Session later this year, I am convinced that together, we hold the power—and the moral obligation—to forge a safer world for our children.

For if not us, who will?

By Rhiannon-Faye McDonald, member of the Brave Movement’s SAGE (Survivor Advocates Globally Empowered – advisory board) and the Head of Advocacy at the Marie Collins Foundation.

I am a survivor of technology-assisted child sexual abuse. When I was 13 years old, I was groomed online by a much older man who was pretending to be someone else. He gave me lots of compliments so I would send photos of myself to him, and ultimately was able to manipulate me into sending intimate photos which were then used to blackmail me. He came to my house the following morning and continued the sexual abuse in person. The photos were used to silence me.

For a long time following my abuse, I felt very alone. I knew that countless other victims and survivors were out there, but I didn’t know any of them. I was never put in contact with others with similar experiences to me,  so I never experienced the kind of peer support that I now know is invaluable in the recovery journey. I joined the Brave Movement because it is such a positive step forward in connecting those with lived experience and showing that we are not alone and not powerless.

By bringing together so many lived experience advocates, our collective voices can bring about true change and have a real impact on the fight against child sexual abuse.

No child should ever have to experience what I went through. No victim or survivor should have to experience the complete lack of support that I did. We have a responsibility to do better, to ensure that every child is safe, and every victim and survivor receives the appropriate support along their recovery journey.

We have had thirty years to address this, and yet the self-regulation of tech companies has failed miserably in protecting children. The number of children harmed by technology-assisted child sexual abuse is ever-increasing. We see victims and survivors being continually re-traumatised by the ongoing circulation of the images and videos of their sexual abuse. We are now witnessing tech companies intentionally making decisions which make their services less safe for children, and more private and secure for child sex abusers.

We cannot stand for this any longer.

Tech companies have a duty to ensure their platforms are safe and are not used as a tool for child sex abusers to groom and abuse children. Many platforms are still failing to protect children adequately. They need to take urgent action to address this and end child sexual abuse in their services.

Launching today, the Dirty Dozen List is crucial in calling out the mainstream tech companies who are facilitating, enabling, and even profiting from sexual abuse and exploitation. The List, created annually by the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, looks at 12 leading tech platforms and the problematic policies and practices on each with a corresponding call to action for urgent change. By providing us with the evidence, it is easy to see which tech platforms are not doing enough and the urgent action that is needed, along with providing easy ways to engage with the issue.

By calling out tech companies in this way, it makes clear that we will no longer accept children being put at risk. And it has been working, along with other initiatives and campaigns in this space. since the list was created in 2013, there have been many victories where tech companies have addressed their failings as a result of being named and shamed. For example, both Instagram and TikTok no longer allow adult strangers to send unsolicited direct messages to children, and Snapchat removed the Snapcash feature which enabled the monetization of child sexual abuse. But there is still more to do.

Technology-assisted child sexual abuse has no borders. It is a global issue, requiring a coordinated and cohesive global response. We need governments and policymakers to truly understand this issue and the significant harm caused, and fight passionately to eradicate it. This includes strong legislation holding tech companies to account and ensuring that the safety of children is prioritised over profit. It includes resources for law enforcement, social services, health, education and parents to strengthen the safeguarding circle around children and ensure that the response to those harmed online does no further harm. It also includes engaging with those of us who have lived experience of this horrendous issue – our voices should inspire change, inform decisions, and be the golden thread running through the global response.

Join the Brave Movement today in calling for tech companies to take urgent action, and support the launch of the #DirtyDozenList with us!