- Recently, a report titled the Global Threat Assessment Report 2021, released by WeProtect Global Alliance has revealed that Covid-19 had contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
- The report outlines the scale and scope of child sexual exploitation and abuse online, as well as an overview of the global response to the issue.
- WeProtect Global Alliance is a global movement of more than 200 governments, private sector companies and civil society organisationsworking together to transform the global response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
Important points:
Highlights:
- In the past two years, the reporting of child sexual exploitation and online abuse has reached its highest level.
- Covid-19 created a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions that fuelled a rise in child sexual exploitation and abuse across the globe.
- According to the Internet Watch Foundation, the rise in child ‘self-generated’ sexual material is another worrying trend.
- Transgender/non-binary, LGBQ+ and/or disabled were more likely to experience online sexual harms during childhood.
Indian Scenario:
- During the pandemic, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicated 106% increase in reports of suspected child sexual exploitation to its global CyberTipline.
- NCMEC is a non-profit organization (NGO) established by the United States Congress.
- Further, during the Covid-19 lockdown in India, there was a 95% rise in searches for child sexual abuse material.
Way Forward
The report calls for prioritising prevention activities against abuse, creating safe online environments for children, besides calling on all with a role to protect children to work together to dramatically improve the response.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT