ECPAT International

After 16 years on X (formerly Twitter), it's time for us to say goodbye. Rampant disinformation, harmful content, and the exploitation of survivors' trauma have made the platform an unsafe space that no longer aligns with our values. Effective immediately, ECPAT is ceasing all activity on X and shifting to Bluesky, where we will continue to advocate for child protection in a safer digital space. 🔷 Follow us on Bluesky: https://lnkd.in/egxbJixs ✉️ Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eQf-ADut --- We’re building our Bluesky community and would love your help! Know any child rights or child protection organisations we should follow? Drop their names in the comments ⬇️

Words shape how we see the world—and how we protect children. Too often, outdated or misleading terms minimise the harm of child sexual exploitation or shift blame onto the victim. It's not "child porn". It's child sexual abuse material. It's not "child sex tourism". It's the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. Language matters. The right terms help expose crimes for what they are, ensure perpetrators are held accountable, and affirm that children are never to blame. Join us in calling for clear, child-centred and blame-free language in law, policy, media, and practice. 🔍 Explore the updated Terminology Guidelines at: https://lnkd.in/eJCZFGiK  ⏰ Don't miss our launch webinar happening today! Register at: https://bit.ly/SETGWebinar #TerminologyMatters #CallItWhatItIs #ChildSexualExploitation #WordsMatter  

Who’s Profiting from Child Sexual Exploitation? New research by our partners at Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute reveals a disturbing truth: child sexual exploitation is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and it’s being enabled by financial systems, tech platforms, and online payment tools. In the past 12 months alone, an estimated 3.5% of children worldwide have experienced sexual extortion. Meanwhile, on-demand child sexual abuse videos can cost up to US$1,200, with profits moving through advertising, cryptocurrencies, and legitimate platforms, often unchecked. Disrupting child sexual exploitation requires strong collaboration and active engagement between the tech and financial sectors, law enforcement, and child protection organisations. For example, in 2022, ECPAT International collaborated with CHS Alternativo, our member in Peru, Scotiabank, and Scotiabank Perú to adapt an alert system to detect suspicious transactions based on a model developed in Canada. This isn’t just a law enforcement issue. It’s a public health crisis. Financial institutions and tech companies must collaborate with child protection organisations to identify, detect, and disrupt the sexual exploitation of children. Only by working together will we be able to curb this crisis. 🔗 Sign up to learn more about our work on protecting children from sexual exploitation: https://lnkd.in/gbTMQPdM    Read more: https://lnkd.in/gMRtb5kq

Want a closer look at #ECPAT’s latest campaign? We’re diving deeper into our work over on #Bluesky — and we’d love for you to be part of the conversation! 👉 Follow us here: https://lnkd.in/egxbJixs 👉 Drop your Bluesky handle in the comments and we’ll make sure to follow you back! Let’s grow a stronger, more connected network — together. #ECPAT #ChildProtection #ChildParticipation #ChildRights

Stark Warning: Dating Apps Are Being Used to Sexually Abuse Children A new report from our colleagues at Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute has uncovered alarming patterns of how dating apps are being misused by men who sexually offended against children — and it’s a wake-up call for regulators and the tech industry. Key findings from the Swipe Wrong report include:  👉 66% of men who sexually offended against children surveyed reported using dating apps — with over 1 in 5 using them daily.  👉 Single mothers are particularly at risk, with offenders grooming them to access their children.  👉 11% of surveyed men admitted to sexually offending against children.  👉 Most dating apps do not require identity verification and lack safeguards to detect grooming behaviour. The report also reveals that the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children is embedded in a much larger ecosystem — with mainstream companies profiting, whether through advertising revenue, payments, or platform engagement. 📢 This is why regulation matters. We need binding, enforceable standards that compel platforms to:  ✅ Vet users with meaningful verification measures  ✅ Detect and disrupt grooming and sexual exploitation patterns  ✅ Be accountable for the ecosystems they profit from 👏 We applaud Childlight’s vital research and echo their call: prevention must be central to our global response. 🔗 Sign up to learn more about our work on protecting children from sexual exploitation: https://lnkd.in/gbTMQPdM Read more - https://lnkd.in/euqk7rpE

📚 A Resource Built for the Whole Child Protection Community Whether you’re a policymaker, social worker, or advocate, the Second Edition of the Terminology Guidelines are designed to support your work. Let’s create a shared language for better #ChildProtection. 👉 Join our launch webinar to discover how to apply these guidelines in your work! 📅 April 10, 2025 ⏰ 2PM Central European Time 🔗 Register at: https://bit.ly/SETGWebinar

Like many of you, we've been captivated by Netflix's '#Adolescence' and the conversations it's sparked. The series reinforces what our work has shown for years: we must start working with boys early to build healthy ideas of masculinity and dismantle harmful gender norms.   What 'Adolescence' portrays isn't new: it's the age-old system of patriarchal control and dominance, now repackaged for online spaces and taking root in boys like 13-year-old Jamie.   Beyond punitive measures and online safety policies, we need to focus on: 💭 Encouraging age-appropriate sexual and emotional education 🌱 Creating spaces for connection and emotional growth 🤝 Promoting positive models of masculinity built on care, not control Through ECPAT International's #GlobalBoysInitiative, we're working to reshape these narratives and build a safer, more caring world for all children.   Explore our work and connect with us to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTKJvmsi

Global Takedown of Kidflix is Progress — But a Stark Reminder of What We're Up Against The dismantling of Kidflix, one of the largest known platforms for child sexual abuse material, is a major milestone in the fight against online child sexual exploitation. Led by German authorities with support from Europol and over 35 countries, the investigation has already identified nearly 1,400 suspects, made 79 arrests, and safeguarded 39 children. But behind these statistics lies a sobering reality:   📌 1.8 million users accessed the platform.   📌 91,000 child sexual abuse videos shared — many previously unknown to law enforcement.   📌 Videos were monetised, categorised, and traded using tokens earned through the abuse of children.  This is not just cybercrime. These are real children, sexually exploited and immeasurably harmed. 🛑 Technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse is one of the defining child protection challenges of our time. We must match the scale of this threat with an equally serious commitment to prevention, accountability, and survivor-centred support.     👉 This is why international cooperation matters. It's why ECPAT continues to call for stronger, coordinated global action to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. 🔗 Sign up to learn more about our work on protecting children from sexual exploitation: https://lnkd.in/gbTMQPdM Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEZHJys5

🎮 The Guardian reports concerns over some gaming spaces being flooded with hate speech & misogynistic, racist rhetoric—but the answer isn’t to push boys away from games.   Some online gaming spaces might reinforce toxic masculinity, but they also provide spaces to challenge rigid gender biases and act as vital communities for young people. For many, gaming isn’t just a hobby—it’s their social world. The problem isn’t screen time; it’s about making these digital spaces safer and healthier for children and young people. 💡 ECPAT is working with tech experts and online gaming companies to create gaming narratives and designs that protect children online. If you care about making gaming spaces safer, let’s talk! Change starts with all of us. #ECPAT #GlobalBoysInitiative #OnlineGaming

🚨 Saying Goodbye to Harmful Terms Terms like “child prostitute” and “child pornography” are not just inaccurate—they perpetuate harmful narratives. The Second Edition of Terminology Guidelines calls for precise, respectful language to protect children. 👉 Join the conversation – sign up for our launch webinar to learn more. 📅 April 10, 2025 13:00 GMT 🔗 https://bit.ly/SETGWebinar