Child sexual abuse and exploitation ‘will be within scope of VAWG strategy’, government confirms
The Government says it will take “concrete actions” to protect victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation as part of its upcoming violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.
It comes after the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and nine other leading child protection groups wrote to then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper calling for the Government to ensure the forthcoming strategy included “clear and deliverable objectives” to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The letter warned children ‘bear the brunt’ of sexual abuse both on and offline.
The move came after Sky News reported child sexual abuse victims would apparently not be considered within scope of this flagship new strategy.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto had pledged to halve VAWG in a decade, and the VAWG Strategy, which had been due to be published this summer, is a key part of this.
The IWF pointed out that violence against girls was impossible to separate from violence against women – and that child sexual abuse disproportionately affects girls.
In 2024, 97 per cent (278,492) of the reports of child sexual abuse imagery confirmed by the IWF showed the sexual abuse of only girls, an increase of 14,246 reports since 2023.
The IWF said the Government’s VAWG strategy is a “golden opportunity” to put those girls at the heart of a real, concerted response to a problem which reaches into every facet of daily life.
Now, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips has written back to reassure the IWF that child sexual abuse and exploitation “will be within the scope of the strategy” after all.
Ms Phillips said: “I can confirm that the VAWG strategy will cover sexual violence. It will address all forms of VAWG through commitments to tackle crimes and behaviours which disproportionately, but not exclusively, affect women and girls. This will include sexual offences, domestic abuse, stalking and ‘honour’-based abuse which occurs online, as well as offline.”
Ms Phillips said the measures set out in the strategy would be accompanied by a “complementary – distinct, but linked” programme of work across government to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse.
She said: “Let me also be clear that children who experience sexual abuse and exploitation are considered in the new VAWG strategy, as we take concrete actions to tackle these crimes.”
Kerry Smith, chief executive of the IWF, said: “This commitment from the Government to making sure sexual violence against girls is enshrined in their upcoming VAWG strategy is absolutely crucial.
“I am pleased to see the Government has addressed the concerns we, and other child protection organisations, have raised. We are at the front line and see how girls bear the brunt of sexual violence on and offline. Any effort to tackle the systemic issues behind this must have their experiences at its heart.
“We now need to see the strategy published in full. It can potentially be a golden opportunity to address the violence which reaches into every facet of daily life. The sooner it can become a reality, the better – and we stand ready to help with this vital work.”
Among the signatories of the letter were the NSPCC, the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, Internet Matters, Barnardo’s, and the UK Safer Internet Centre.