It’s time to talk about it: child sexual abuse can be preventable
Child sexual abuse is a difficult topic, but there is one thing all of us can agree on: we wish it would never happen in the first place.
Child sexual abuse can be prevented, and to prevent it, help and support must address everyone in need.
This video is part of the 2PS Awareness Raising campaign which aims at highlighting the importance of prevention of child sexual abuse before it happens. The goal is to start building awareness of the necessity of prevention to end violence against children, also by reducing social stigma around the topic.
The 2PS Project and a Holistic Approach
2PS is part of a broader, holistic approach to CSAE prevention. While perpetrator prevention is an important pillar, it works alongside other prevention strategies such as grassroots interventions, media literacy, and online safety education. We also support a strategy that prioritises strong legislation, victim support, and law enforcement action to detect and investigate criminal activities.
Why We Need to Talk About Perpetrator Prevention
One thing is certain: without talking about it, nothing will change. So, it’s time to talk about it—child sexual abuse can be preventable.
Together, we can take action to stop abuse before it happens. We hope this initiative sparks more people to engage in meaningful discussions.
Download the Communication Kit to join the campaign and share our messages on social media.
2PS is a member of the Sparks in the Dark community, a platform that amplifies campaigns addressing all aspects of CSAE prevention. If you have a campaign related to perpetrator prevention or other prevention actions, please contact 2PS to have your materials listed here. For initiatives focused on broader prevention efforts, please reach out to the Sparks in the Dark community.
2PS's point of view
Why must prevention take priority to fight child sexual abuse and protect children?
Child sexual abuse is a pervasive and devastating problem, impacting millions of children globally and causing profound, lasting harm. While we recognise the vital roles of child education and law enforcement in protecting children, we also acknowledge that these efforts, while crucial, often come into play after abuse has already occurred. This reality sparked critical discussions within our project, 2PS (Prevent & Protect Through Support), about how we can make a more significant impact in truly preventing harm.
This is why we have launched this new video as part of the ‘Prevention is Child Protection’ campaign.
As the 2PS project, our core scope is to introduce a paradigm shift in how we collectively tackle child sexual abuse. We are driven by the understanding that a significant, yet often overlooked, opportunity exists:
child sexual abuse can be preventable.
Our video aims to clarify and reinforce this shared position, emphasising that prevention is a tangible, achievable and desirable goal to protect children. It highlights that abuse isn’t a singular phenomenon, but is driven by various factors.
By focusing on these underlying drivers, including those related to individuals with a sexual interest in children, we can implement proactive interventions. This means exploring options like counselling and therapeutic support, which can prevent abuse from ever happening in the first place, thereby safeguarding children from becoming victims.
The 2PS project, through this video and our broader campaign, seeks to spark discussion, engage a wider audience and demonstrate that proactive, evidence-based prevention strategies are highly effective in contributing to a holistic and systemic response to child protection.
This video is a tool to empower everyone to see that prevention is child protection, and together, we can build a safer world for all children.
The police play a vital role in tackling Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE), working tirelessly to investigate crimes, bring perpetrators to justice, and support victims. However, enforcement alone is not enough to prevent abuse before it happens. True safeguarding requires a broader approach—education, early intervention, digital protections, and robust social systems that address vulnerability before it is exploited. A proactive, multi-agency effort is essential to ensure that prevention is prioritised just as much as justice.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation is a traumatic experience that causes mental, physical and social health problems. Victims of CSAE typically suffer from depression, anxiety, aggressive behaviours, PTSD and disturbed sexual behaviour. It may also lead to isolation, self-harm, problems with learning and difficulties in forming relationships with others. This is why prevention on this matter is essential. Adequately trained law enforcement builds a sense of security and trust among society. Police officers play an essential role in prevention, as they reach target groups with education on CSAE. Their knowledge and actions lead to wider awareness of CSAE in the public. Taking part in the 2PS project by the Provincial Police Headquarters in Gdansk broadened the perspective on the complexity of causes and consequences of CSAE and enables our efforts in the area of prevention to be more effective.