New global data institute to combat ‘pandemic’ of child sexual abuse
The first comprehensive global database of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) is being established to show the true scale and nature of the problem, which experts warn is now a “pandemic”.
Based in the University of Edinburgh, the new data institute Childlight was unveiled on Wednesday (March 15) in response to an “alarming increase” in CSEA reports.
Childlight warns CSEA is a “global health emergency”, but until now, data has been “fragmented and clearly delineated between online and offline”, which prevents the true extent of the issue from ever being fully understood.
Recent data shows there are now 80,000 reports of suspected CSEA material being shared every day.
But Childlight’s executive director Paul Stanfield said the scale of the problem is “much greater than current numbers suggest”.
Childlight aims to create the first comprehensive global prevalence data set for CSEA. Using the data, Childlight’s team will produce an annual report, global dashboard and index that can be used by multiple sectors, including government, technology, law enforcement, NGOs and child protection.
Data from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children –the centralised reporting system for electronic service providers such as Google and Meta – has seen referrals for suspected child sexual abuse material detected and shared online increase from 59,000 a day in 2020 to 80,000 a day by the end of 2022.
Mr Paul Stanfield, former head of the National Crime Agency and Interpol’s former director of organised and emerging crime, said: “This is a global health emergency affecting children all over the world. Sadly, we suspect the true scale of this pandemic is much greater than current numbers suggest and encompasses so many different forms of abuse and exploitation that extend beyond online.
“This problem isn’t solved by law enforcement alone. To combat CSEA, we must first understand the prevalence and nature of this type of abuse.
“With the data we can work with partners from all sectors to ensure urgent action is taken to prevent children from further harm, because children can’t wait!”
Professor Deborah Fry, Childlight’s director of data and chair of International Child Protection Research at the University of Edinburgh, added: “Each sector holds a piece of the data puzzle. Bringing together the whole data picture is essential for tackling CSEA.
“We know that current numbers are likely to be significantly underestimated and hope that our dashboard and index will provide an invaluable tool for governments and organisations all over the world to stop this abuse because every child matters.”
Founded by the Human Dignity Foundation, Childlight has built a multi-disciplinary, international team of experienced individuals from a variety of backgrounds that span academia, the private sector, law enforcement and NGOs. Through its Global Data Fellows programme, Childlight says researchers from all over the world can contribute to this essential data and analysis.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said of the new institute: “These stark figures underline the urgent need for a coordinated effort to identify, take action and help protect the welfare of children across the world.
“The ambition and scope of Childlight is immense, and by bringing together University of Edinburgh academic expertise with an international team of specialists, this vital institute will provide a significant contribution in the fight against child exploitation.”