New research on harmful sexual behaviours amongst children

“Harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) are unwanted, exploitative or violent sexual acts by one child towards another, including technology-assisted harmful sexual behaviours (TA-HSBs), which are HSBs that occur in online spaces or are facilitated through technological devices.” This quote comes from our new research report, which summarises the core significance of (TA-)HSBs.

(TA-)HSBs are widespread across the globe and significantly threaten children’s rights to physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing and safety. In response, TdH NL conducted a systematic desk review of 104 sources to produce a highly detailed research report and focus brief, to better understand and respond to this complex, pressing issue affecting children worldwide. 

This research covers the terminology and significance of (TA-)HSBs, the nature and prevalence of (TA)HSBs, why it is important to respond to this issue, key individual, family and community/ societal risk factors and key protective factors. It also delves into prevention and response, with key principles and specific prevention, early intervention and response recommendations to ensure child-focused, trauma-informed action. It then outlines the current response situation in the Netherlands, along with some global case examples of interventions responding to (TA-)HSBs. 

To protect children’s rights and to ensure they can flourish, free from all harms, urgent action is needed to respond to the scale and severity of (TA-)HSBs around the world.