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Indicator
Engagement with survivors through a government-supported or endorsed National Survivor Council at a departmental, regional or national level
Ensuring the development of effective, trauma-informed policies
The lived experience of survivors—essential for effective policy design—remains marginalized across most G7 nations.
Germany’s statutory National Survivor Council establishes a global benchmark. Canada’s newly formed council shows promise, and French PM François Bayrou’s recent commitment to create a National Survivors Council - a direct result of the advocacy of the Brave Movement in France (1) - represents progress, but these stand as exceptions in a landscape where survivor voices are largely sidelined.
The UK is establishing mechanisms to engage with survivors, with plans underway to create a National Survivors Council. The work is being informed and advised by survivors and allies, based around best practices when it comes to survivor engagement and trauma informed approaches.
The US has not yet established a national survivors council, though there has been positive leadership, particularly from the First Lady, in centering survivors’ perspectives (2) The US has previously established an Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, which comprises 13 survivor leaders (3).
Japan currently lacks a formal national survivor council. However, promising grassroots momentum is building through a coalition of organizations including ChildFund Japan, ECPAT/STOP Japan, Kyofukai, BeBrave Japan, World Vision Japan, and Spring. The coalition is actively advocating for the establishment of both a survivor council and Child Advocacy Centers, and has gained support from key members of the Diet and within the government (4).
Italy has not yet established a national survivor council (5).
Significantly, the Brave Movement successfully pushed for the inclusion of national survivor councils at the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in 2024. The Bogotá Call to Action is a commitment to this as part of broader action to address violence against children.
- Brave Movement. (2025). The Brave Movement welcomes the French PM’s support for the creation of a victims council.
- We have consulted with leading survivor advocates across the G7.
- US Department of State. (2024). United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Annual Report 2024
- We have consulted with leading survivor advocates across the G7.
- We have consulted with leading survivor advocates across the G7.
Insights from our #BeBrave members about national survivor councils
News
The Brave Movement welcomes the French PM’s support for the creation of a victims council
Support from France’s Prime Minister for the creation of a national survivor council has been welcomed by the Brave Movement as ” An essential step towards ending violence against children in France .” The announcement, made by François Bayrou today at the National Assembly in Paris brings closer the establishment of a body made-up of survivors of abuse, to advise on legislation, policies, and programs aimed at ending it. Brave stands ready to support the creation of a Council which can amplify survivor voices, provide an exchange platform for experts and survivors and serve as an invaluable resource in the development of policies tackling child sexual violence .” Constance Bertrand, French survivor spokesperson of the Saint-Dominique de Neuilly-sur-Seine survivors' group said: “ A National Council would be an initiative that gives victims a voice and a place.
Blog
From silence to leadership: how national survivor councils can drive prevention, healing and justice
Establishing National Survivor Councils to ensure survivors shape child protection.
April 24, 2025
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Blog
We all have a role to play in ending childhood sexual violence
As a child, I experienced both intra- and extra-familial sexual violence, as well as psychological and physical abuse.
January 24, 2025
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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
About the G7 Scorecard
This 2025 #BeBrave G7 Scorecard builds on the first iteration of the analysis conducted in 2022, assessing each G7 country on how they are responding to childhood sexual violence at home and around the world.
Previous G7 Communiqués have made bold commitments to ending sexual violence against children. On the G7 forum's 50th anniversary the scorecard, based on a strategic set of policy indicators, assesses whether the G7 has delivered on these.
