The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 billion children have experienced violence in the past year.

According to WHO there are 6 main types of violence against children:

• Maltreatment
• Bullying
• Youth violence
• Intimate partner violence
• Sexual violence
• Emotional or psychological violence

One in 10 children will be sexually abused by the age of 18. 60% of these victims never speak up.

There are many different types of sexual abuse are inflicted upon children all over the world, ranging from child porn and internet grooming, to molestation and rape.

Child marriage is a prevalent example of child sex abuse, that is still legal in many countries around the world.

Sexual abuse towards children has severe effects and consequences, which can include mental illness such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, as well as physical injuries.

It is estimated that 19.7% of females and 7.9% of males suffer sexual abuse as children.

However, these numbers have increased in 2020, as Covid-19 caused a severe spike in online child exploitation.

This has also highlighted a need for information sharing between governments and law enforcement agencies, as the issue of child exploitation and child sex abuse does not fall under any one jurisdiction.

A representative from the Italian Interior Ministry stated that “The possibility for the national security system to share views have certainly made it possible to lay the foundations of renewed international collaboration and increase at a technical and operational level, the possibility of reaching environments that have not been fully explored yet.”

The importance of communication and collaboration between governments and other organisations is phenomenal. It will pave the way for new solutions to global problems, such as child sex abuse.

The prospects of success for such intelligence sharing was seen this year in the UEA, where, thanks to an alliance between 11 governments, the following was made possible:

• 549 children rescued from abusive environments
• 771 arrests were made in relation to child exploitation
• 580 websites and apps used for child exploitation were blocked

Not only were the children removed from these abusive environments, but they were also provided with follow up physical and mental health care to deal with the trauma. 

“Reports from the members of the public, including victims themselves, as well as the covert nature of our work led us to child sexual predators.” said Captain Khatir.

The UEA is further working with other jurisdictions that have rehabilitation programs for victims of such offences, finding the rescued children homes throughout Europe and Australia.

The UEA is not the only country to have some success in locating and saving victims of child sex abuse, however, it is an excellent example of the use of intelligence sharing and cooperation, and reflects a pathway that needs to take in the future, by governments and NGOs alike, for the protection of children

There are extensive support lines, agencies, organisations and more, aimed at battling child sex abuse, however most of them are limited by jurisdictions.

Our global community needs a global solution. Without these limitations.

Modern Problems require Modern Solutions

IOSI aims to help battle Child Sex Abuse in the following ways.

OSINT:

OSINT is an Open-Source Intelligence methodology that is used to collect and analyse data from publicly accessible sources. The IOSI – Child Sex Abuse project and its members aim to use OSINT to access data relevant to Child Sex Abuse that can assist law enforcement in identifying perpetrators of this abuse and locating victims.

IOSI has access to a sea of individual OSINT experts all around the world. The use of OSINT in Child Sex Abuse cases can, and will, increase the number of victims found and saved, and decrease the time that it takes.

OSINT Training:

IOSI experts provide OSINT training. This training is available to first responders as well as member of the general public, and the newly acquired knowledge can be used for a wide variety of things, including the collection of data important to the fight against Child Sex Abuse.

Education, Awareness and Communication:

The new IOSI Members Platform has been created to combat the changing nature of Global Crime. The platform acts as a virtual space that connects all members, allowing the free and unfiltered communication between them. With the option of anonymity, members can publish articles regarding Child Sex Abuse, connect with experts, express opinions and views, and develop strategies.

A Future without Child Sex Abuse

The safety of the children of the future is dependent on our ability to create and sustain effective instruments to combat Child Sex Abuse. Sole communities nor countries will be able to abolish Child Sex Abuse. It will take a global community to tackle a global problem – people with specialised training, years of experience, and expert knowledge, as well as the public. If the general public turns a blind eye to Child Sex Abuse, it will continue to exist and thrive.

Help us Help Children

Global Organization for Security and Intelligence – IOSI

2020