Protecting children from sexual abuse requires better data records, not just criminal records

On the occasion of the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which is being marked today, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Bers, stressed the importance of collecting data from various sources – including the education and health sectors, helplines, child protection services, civil society organizations, as well as from children themselves.

He emphasizes that this data is crucial for shaping adequate policies, holding perpetrators accountable, and preventing sexual abuse.

“To be effective, our work to protect children and stop perpetrators must be evidence-based,” said Bers, as reported by the Council of Europe. “Many countries still only collect basic data from their criminal justice systems – or do not use it adequately. Facts and figures cannot just be reported – they must reach decision-makers and inform their work to improve child safety. Data collection is a good first step and a valuable investment,” he added.

The findings of the recent Lanzarote Committee report on data collection mechanisms, it is recalled, point to the importance of using multiple sources, not just crime statistics.

"Many sexual offences against children remain unreported. Overcoming this data collection gap requires the involvement of multiple actors. Child protection services, multidisciplinary structures for child victims or witnesses (such as Barnahus centers), educational and health professionals can collect valuable information that helps to better understand the nature and causes of child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as to identify effective responses," the statement reads.

Children, it is emphasized, are the ultimate beneficiaries of policies designed to protect them and can provide key insights into the risks they face, the realities on the ground, and which approaches work and which do not. "Collaboration with civil society organizations working on child protection can significantly improve the quality of data collected. Establishing a hub for data collected from national and local actors can further improve coordination. For this to become a reality, all data collection points need to agree on standardized methods of data classification, to avoid duplication and inconsistencies."

Strengthening data collection mechanisms in the Lanzarote Convention member states is the key theme of a capacity-building conference in Chisinau, organised today to mark the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. It is the first large-scale event organised during the Moldovan chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The objectives of the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, launched by the Council of Europe in 2015, are to raise awareness and encourage open discussion about child sexual exploitation and abuse, in order to end the stigmatization of victims and survivors of abuse. "On this Day, everyone can act: children, parents, victims and survivors, authorities, professionals working with children (educators, sports coaches), police, NGOs and the private sector," the statement reads.