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Ending childhood sexual violence - the G7 Scorecard
Urgent government action required
By evaluating each G7 nation’s progress on vital policy measures we're drawing global attention to the global, silent pandemic of sexual violence against children.
Approximately 3 girls and 2 boys per second experienced some form of sexual violence – this is a crisis that undermines the G7's commitment to building secure, prosperous, and equitable societies. Kids need bold leadership and decisive action now to be safe and thrive.
G7 countries
A disturbing reality
Despite important progress in isolated areas, the world’s richest nations are fundamentally failing to address the escalating global crisis of childhood sexual violence.
Most alarming is the dramatic retreat from financial commitments, with four G7 nations implementing severe cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) at a time when investment is most critical.
As leaders gather for the forum’s 50th anniversary, the scorecard serves as a stark reminder that there is much more work to do.
We call on all G7 leaders to take urgent action to end childhood sexual violence now.
See our call to actionHighlights of the #BeBrave G7 Scorecard 2025
Key findings for 2025
• Germany has established a global benchmark by making its National Survivors Council statutory, while Canada has formed its own Council (though without formal government support). Recently, French PM François Bayrou announced France’s intention to create a National Survivors Council, demonstrating positive momentum across G7 nations.
• Through the introduction of the 2023 Online Safety Act and Ofcom’s latest codes of practice to protect children online, along with proposed legislation addressing emerging AI-related risks, the UK has made the most significant relative progress on online safety regulations. Additionally, the US is progressing with the TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed on 19 May 2025, which criminalizes sharing child sexual abuse material (including AI-generated content). Despite these important steps, there remains much more to do in all G7 countries, including the UK and the US. Despite these important steps, there remains much more to do in all G7 countries, including the UK and the US.
• Legal barriers to justice persist in most G7 countries. Only the UK, the USA and Canada have eliminated criminal statutes of limitations for sexual violence crimes, including those against children.
• It remains the case that no country in the G7 has a comprehensive National Action Plan to address childhood sexual violence, which adequately considers the three core tenets of prevention, healing, and justice for survivors.
• Global child protection action faces unprecedented financial restraints as four out of seven G7 nations implement severe cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA), dismantling critical safeguards for the world’s most vulnerable children.
See the G7 countries
Indicators
- Financial investment in development aid for childhood protection
- Elimination of statutes of limitations in relation to childhood sexual violence in criminal law
- Implementation of national action plans or strategy to address childhood sexual violence
- Engagement with survivors through a government-supported or endorsed national survivor council
- Safe internet
