ECPAT International

The EU Kids Act — the new EU's regulation on safer design for major online platforms — recognises something online safety debates sometimes treat as an afterthought: children are being targeted online. And it's not because they're spending "too much time online". That's a design failure, not a side effect of "screen time."   ECPAT International welcomes the European Commission putting responsibility where it belongs — on platforms — and applying it everywhere kids actually spend their time: social media, video platforms, games, AI companions, app stores.   Safer platform design was long overdue. Next up, now we also need safer online content. ECPAT International has spent years advocating for the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR), which would strengthen online platforms' obligations to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse material online.   Design and content protections should go hand in hand. Neither works without the other.   #EUKidsAct

Coming Soon: Kisah A In the depths of Kampung Panglima, a small suburban town in Malaysia, Kisah A follows Arshaad, a young boy who dreams of becoming a dancer. When he finds friendship and encouragement online, his pursuit of the dream slowly leads him into a world where trust may not look like what it seems. Against the backdrop of hardship and isolation, the short film explores themes of boyhood, friendship, and exploitation. This short film is a collaboration between Nasi Campur Tales (Sofea H.), ECPAT International, and Global Alliance for the Protection of Boys from Sexual Violence (GAPB). Premiering in Bangkok, Thailand, at the #SVRIForum2026 on Thursday, 8 October at 1PM. Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/ewK59YC7 Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)

🇩🇴 Nearly a quarter of children surveyed in the Dominican Republic were subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in just one year, according to new #DisruptingHarm research. Boys were more likely to be exposed to unwanted sexual content, while girls were more likely to receive unwanted requests for sexual images. Abuse may look different, but every child needs to be supported to recognise it and seek help. The report calls for action to challenge attitudes that normalise abuse, help children understand consent and boundaries, and strengthen child-centred reporting pathways. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3STRfw4 Safe Online UNICEF Innocenti INTERPOL

How can the travel and tourism industry help protect children from sexual exploitation? Ahead of #WorldTourismDay, discover how companies around the world are putting child protection into practice across their business operations. From hotels to travel agencies, The Code - Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct's Top Members of 2026 will share practical examples of how they have taken action—from strengthening policies and procedures to engaging staff and partners. Be inspired by innovative approaches, discover what’s working, and learn how your company can take action to help protect children from sexual exploitation. Join us for the webinar that best suits your timezone ⬇️ Americas and Europe Webinar: 📅 Tuesday, 22 September 🕒 9:30AM Bogotá / 3:30PM Madrid 🗣️ English-Spanish interpretation 🔗 https://bit.ly/4iuXlNU Europe, Asia, and Africa Webinar: 📅 Wednesday, 23 September 🕒 11AM Amsterdam / 4PM Bangkok 🗣️ English-French interpretation 🔗 https://bit.ly/4y0EXkI

🇲🇰 One in every 10 children in North Macedonia was subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in just one year, according to new #DisruptingHarm research. This represents an estimated 12,000 children. More than half of these instances of abuse involved social media, and almost a third happened via online games. The report calls for stronger laws for the digital age, safer platforms and guidance for parents and children to access support when they need it. Read the report: https://bit.ly/4h2vylx Safe Online UNICEF Innocenti INTERPOL

🇵🇰 Nearly 1 in every 16 children in Pakistan were subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in just one year, according to new #DisruptingHarm research. This is an estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan. 4 in every 5 instances involved someone the child already knew. These findings challenge the “stranger danger” myth and show how abuse can shift between digital and physical spaces—from social media and messaging apps, to schools and homes. Explore more findings and recommendations in the report ➡️ https://bit.ly/4iLTnAn Safe Online UNICEF Innocenti INTERPOL

The new ecpat.org is live! We've rebuilt our website to bring together our resources, campaigns, and advocacy in one place—organised across seven focus areas to show how ECPAT’s work connects to our goal of ending the sexual exploitation of children. Whether you're a practitioner looking for evidence and tools, or someone who wants to understand the issue and get involved, the site is built for you. 🔍 Take a look: https://ecpat.org/ 📬 Subscribe to our newsletter for updates: https://bit.ly/4cT0R0D

Congratulations to Last Mile Health, the 2026 Hilton Humanitarian Prize recipient! Last Mile Health is being recognised for addressing a critical problem: Illness is universal, but access to healthcare is not. Today, two billion people live outside the reach of healthcare, and nearly nine million die each year from preventable causes. Through partnerships with governments, Last Mile Health equips community health workers with the training, tools, and support to deliver essential primary healthcare at the last mile, expanding access to care and improving health outcomes for millions. Learn more about this year’s Prize recipient from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation: https://bit.ly/4xGOHjp

ECPAT International is proud to be a member of ECLAG, the European Child Sexual Abuse Legislation Advocacy Group, alongside 80+ organisations committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse across Europe.  Follow ECLAG to stand informed about our advocacy and campaigning on EU child protection policy.

What happens when you revisit the usual player safety tools and look more closely at age and gender factors behind their usage? That was the question at the center of our #TrustCon2026 roundtable, hosted by Rodrigo Tamellini of GamerSafer and our very own Julieanne Marie Tabilog.   Thank you to everyone who attended the session!    We had such an engaged and thoughtful discussion and here are a few points that stuck with us most: 🟪 Games and the communities they create hold meaning for young people. Rather than taking away these channels as a way to avoid risks, there should be built-in mechanisms to support their safety.   🟪 Players are not a homogenous group. Behavioral differences in help-seeking are opportunities to diversify tools so all players actually feel comfortable using them.   🟪 Meaningful changes can come in different forms, such as youth-friendly designs, language that is easy to understand, and visual cues that make help feel more approachable.   🟪 The role of parents/guardians remains vital. But they, too, may need help in understanding how games work, how to use reporting channels, or what warning signs to look out for. This is something platforms can contribute to.   The Snapshot we presented in this roundtable, co-published with GamerSafer, offers practical recommendations on these exact points. You can view and download it here: https://lnkd.in/giiRexqz Speaker photos courtesy of TSPA. P.S. If you missed us at TrustCon, do reach out and let's connect: gaming@ecpat.org