On 23 September, the National Library of Latvia hosted the annual international conference organised by “Centrs Dardedze”. This year titled “Our children – Our responsibility. What can each of us do to prevent child sexual abuse?”.
The conference resulted in a clear message: protecting children from sexual abuse cannot be the responsibility of a single institution or organisation. Prevention must begin much earlier – in families and schools, sports clubs and the digital environment. Efficient prevention requires close cooperation and exchange of information among professionals and institutions.
Data shared at the conference reveal the gravity of the matter and the current state. Agnese Sladzevska, Member of the Board of “Centrs Dardedze”, highlighted that one in eight children experiences sexual violence before the age of 18. She also noted that prevention begins with the actions of adults and the environment we create around children.
“Our shared preventive work starts here – with these conversations. It starts with a child who understands that their body belongs to them, with a parent who listens, with a teacher who notices changes in behaviour and with a society that tells the child: ‘I believe you. You are not to blame, and you are not alone.’”
– Agnese Sladzevska, Member of the Board of “Centrs Dardedze”
The rights of children and young people are a bedrock of Nordic values and one of the key elements of Nordic-Baltic cooperation. One of the strengths of this cooperation is the opportunity to share knowledge and approaches that have already proved valuable elsewhere. The importance of shared responsibility was also noted by the Director of our office.
“Awareness matters. Knowledge matters. But ultimately, we need to ask ourselves: what can we – you and me – do differently tomorrow because of what we learned today?”
– Nina Hvid Enevoldsen, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia supported participation of Anna Ovaska, expert from the Finnish NGO “Protect Children”. The organisation aims to prevent sexual violence against children, with a particular focus on intervening early enough to prevent harmful behaviour before a child becomes a victim. The expert pointed out that online child sexual abuse continues to grow and the data presented at the conference showed the gravity of the problem in Latvia as well: nearly four in ten survivors first experienced sexual violence between the ages of three and six. Abuse was often experienced repeatedly, and in most cases the perpetrator was someone the child knew.
The importance of prevention is evident also in the digital environment. Jana Orlova from the “Latvian Safer Internet Centre” explained how children are approached through social media and then moved to less controlled platforms, where communication can gradually become of sexual nature.
“Since February 2022, more than 10,000 children and young people aged 8–17 have completed the Drossinternets.lv test about their online friendships and experiences. Of those surveyed, 23% said that an online ‘friend’ had sent them something that made them feel ashamed or confused, while 18% reported that someone had tried to persuade or pressure them to photograph or film themselves naked. More than one in five had received an image, video or link showing a naked adult or intimate body parts, while 23% had been asked to keep their communication with that person secret”.
– Jana Orlova, “Latvian Safer Internet Centre”
Her presentation also included practical recommendations for adults when talking to children about their experiences online.
1. Remind children that people online may not be who they claim to be.
2. Explain that harmful behaviour can also take place in digital spaces.
3. Discuss carefully what personal information should never be shared.
4. Agree on what to do when something uncomfortable happens online.
5. Make sure children know that they can always turn to a trusted adult for help.
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility and it starts with each of us, so let’s keep the conversations going and work together to make childhood safer for every child.
The conference was supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia together with the Society Integration Foundation and the British Embassy in Latvia.
