New report on recognising the risks and prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation published to support learning and prevention in Scotland
A new report providing an overview of the prevalence of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation, and approaches to prevent and respond to the risk and harm to children and young people, has been published by CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, today (18 November).
CELCIS was asked by Scottish Government to provide an overview analysis of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) to help inform policy developments in the government aimed at helping national and local multi-agency partners and services to better respond to the risks, including new emerging digital risks, and harm from child sexual abuse and exploitation. The work was completed earlier this year and updated in October.
Child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual exploitation (CSE), also sometimes referred to as child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE), including online abuse, are significant nationally and globally and have a profound impact on survivors, families, and communities. This new report outlines the current context, including the prevalence of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation, the characteristics of perpetrators, online abuse, and peer-to-peer abuse, and takes a look at approaches taken to prevention.
The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, updated in 2023, sets out the responsibilities and expectations of all who work with children, young people, their families and carers in Scotland and how agencies should work together with children, young people, parents, families and communities to protect children from abuse, harm, neglect and exploitation.
Ensuring there is widespread and up-to-date knowledge about child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation is vital if agencies are to prevent, recognise and respond to abuse and exploitation and to support survivors’ recovery. This analysis by CELCIS identifies implications and areas to address to improve policy and practice in Scotland, including:
- The need for a whole system, integrated and strategic approach to prevention;
- Ongoing challenges in data collection because of lack of recognition, under-reporting and differential understandings of definitions of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation;
- An imperative to raise awareness and understanding of the scale and nature of peer-to-peer sexual abuse in Scotland to ensure all children can access the right support; and
- The role of leadership required at all levels within and across agencies at supporting the development of trauma-informed services for children and families and effective preventative approaches.
Ruth Sills, Protecting Children Programme Lead at CELCIS, said:
“Despite the increase in knowledge and understanding, the recent inquiries into historic abuse that have been held in the UK and around the world, have highlighted that child sexual abuse and exploitation remains under-detected and under-reported. It’s essential to make sure that everyone understands how to prevent the risk of harm to children and young people and to recognise the many forms abuse and exploitation can take.
“Responding effectively to child sexual abuse and exploitation requires a well-trained, supported, confident and trauma-informed workforce at all levels who are clear about their duties and responsibilities, sensitive to the complexities of this area of practice. Among many of the suggestions for improvement that emerge from the implications of what we found through this review, is that it is important to consider how we explore and extend opportunities for children and young people to disclose the abuse, exploitation and harm they have experienced by creating space and having these skilled, trauma-informed workforces to enable them to be listened to, heard and supported.”