2PS – FOSTERING A CULTURE OF PREVENTION TO TACKLE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION
Prevent and Protect through Support (2PS) is a three-year European-funded project with the objective to enhance prevention of child sexual abuse and prevent harm before it occurs.
2PS aims to protect children by fostering a culture of prevention. This approach yields a dual benefit: safeguarding children and providing support to people who fear they might offend against children, offering them alternative pathways.
This project will achieve a better understanding of what leads to harmful behaviours, informing and educating people who fear they might offend against children about the support services and rehabilitation options they have, as well as sharing the best practices for guidance, therapy and treatment methods with a variety of stakeholders that includes frontline services, specialist practitioners (therapists and psychologists) and law enforcement agencies.
Therefore, together with leading global actors, 2PS is committed to foster a culture of prevention in society that supports and complements a whole system response to tackling CSAE.
HOW 2PS WILL TAKE PROACTIVE ACTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The project has multiple objectives that aim to make a significant impact in the field of child sexual abuse prevention throughout Europe. Firstly, it will develop policy recommendations that are sensitive to different cultures and can be effectively applied across Europe. These recommendations will serve as guidelines for preventing child sexual abuse.
Another crucial aspect of the project is increasing awareness among people who fear they might offend against children. By informing them about the available support services, the project aims to prevent offences and encourage them to seek help. It recognizes the importance of supporting these individuals on their journey towards behavioural change to prevent harm to children.
The project also places great emphasis on enhancing the understanding of people who fear they might offend children. By fostering empathy and promoting a deeper comprehension of their circumstances, the project aims to guide them towards seeking help and making positive changes in their behaviour.
To further strengthen prevention efforts, the project aims to develop training materials for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and frontline staff. The goal is to provide additional materials to enhance the current knowledge and tools to equip people with skills to actively contribute to preventing child sexual abuse.
The project will conduct awareness campaigns to reach a wider audience and raise public consciousness about the issue of child sexual abuse. By disseminating information and promoting a culture of prevention, the project aims to engage the community and encourage active participation in protecting children.
KEY RESULTS: HOW 2PS WILL BRING VALUE TO THE DOMAIN
2PS is working hard to bring value to the protection of children from harm domain. In particular, 2PS will achieve the following results:
- Increase knowledge of the target groups’ specific support needs and new tools in the online intervention landscape.
- Literature review on the mental health needs and barriers to treatment of people with a sexual interest in children. We will conduct a meta-analysis on the differences between offending and non-offending people with a sexual interest in children. Results will inform therapeutic work, research and policy-making.
- Support the prevention of child sexual abuse before it occurs via an online hub that highlights services and support programmes that can help people who fear they might offend with their specific challenges.
- Deliver greater consistency and efficacy among professionals in the EU member states in working with people who fear they might offend against children. The evaluation and reviews of existing good practices and the development of new training programs will achieve the objective.
- Raise public awareness and reduce social stigma through initiatives and campaigns to raise awareness. It will impact individuals by encouraging them to seek and receive help. Reducing stigma also promotes victims and survivors coming forward and seeking help and reporting CSAE.
2PS CONSORTIUM: 20 PARTNERS FROM 14 COUNTRIES TOGETHER TO PREVENT CSAE
Led by Polish Platform for Homeland Security, 2PS Consortium consists of specialists from multiple fields. The team includes National Helplines, Universities, Outpatient Clinics, Psychologists and Sexologists, Law Enforcement, Technology partners, NGOs and Legal experts.
The team strives toward a paradigm shift in the approach to countering CSAE. Partners have extensive experience and believe that prevention actions should increase to guide people who fear they might offend against children to receive help. Indeed, this can effectively address the challenges societies face in this domain.
Furthermore, 2PS benefits from the support provided by an Advisory Board, composed of the most experienced international professionals.
The Advisory Board provides valuable input, feedback, suggestions and advice to the consortium about ongoing research activities. It helps partners to stay updated about other relevant international initiatives and findings in the domain.
2PS is networking with many initiatives to strengthen prevention and maximise the effectiveness of results.
