Launch of Global Terminology Guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse

An 18-member Global Interagency Working Group (IWG) coordinated by ECPAT International has released the ‘Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse’.

The IWG comprised key international and regional child protection stakeholders and was chaired by Professor Jaap Doek, former Chair person of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Alongside the IWG discussions, consultation processes with a broader group of experts on child protection were also held in English, French and Spanish.

Dubbed the ‘Luxembourg Guidelines’ after their adoption in the country earlier this year, the guidelines are in response to the absence of common language to describe conduct amounting to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, which affects and undermines global efforts to protect vulnerable children.

The document offers guidance on how to navigate the complex lexicon of terms commonly used to describe sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. They are intended for all child protection actors and aim to build consensus on key concepts in order to strengthen understanding, data collection, and cooperation across agencies, sectors and countries.