On 18 November we mark the World Day for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence, a global occasion dedicated to protecting children and adolescents from all forms of violence – offline but also online, in a context where grooming, sextortion and the non-consensual sharing of images are increasingly widespread.
The forms of abuse that occur in the digital sphere are a continuation of the same dynamics of exploitation and violence that harm the physical and psychological wellbeing of children and young people. For this reason, the World Day highlights the urgency of an integrated, multi-level approach, where local and global actors collaborate to make prevention more effective and more accessible.
As part of these efforts, bE-aware plays a key role in promoting prevention, education and support for people who have experienced – or who are at risk of experiencing – violence.
To support educators, social workers and young people, the project has developed two innovative and accessible resources:
- a mobile App, designed to help young people understand online risks and navigate the digital world safely;
- a practical Manual for those working in educational and social settings, with interactive modules, activities and training materials on online gender-based and sexual violence.
Both resources are available for free at www.beawareproject.eu.
Prevention and awareness in local communities
In early November, a public forum against gender-based and sexual violence was held in Fort-de-France, Martinique (France). The event brought together citizens, professionals and young people through training sessions, cultural activities and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at generating collective understanding and action.
In addition, as part of the DialoghiAMO festival, an event on digital safety and intergenerational dialogue will take place on 21 November at 18:00 at Fembocs, a transfeminist collective in Bagheria. The workshop will address issues such as grooming, the non-consensual sharing of images and other forms of online violence. Through interactive activities and opportunities for discussion, the event will highlight the crucial role of comprehensive sexuality education in ensuring online safety – helping prevent sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, including and especially in digital spaces.
Beyond awareness-raising, 18 November invites us to strengthen prevention, education and support through concrete tools and the active involvement of communities and institutions – to build a future in which every child can live free from fear, exploitation and violence, both offline and online.
About bE-aware
bE-aware is funded by Erasmus+ programme, KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youth, and aims at understanding, preventing, detecting and addressing Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OSEA) through a holistic, multi-faceted and multisectoral approach.
Partners
- DʼAntilles et DʼAilleurs (France, Coordinator)
- To Hamogelo Tou Paidiou (Greece)
- Kentro Meleton Asfaleias (Greece)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- Storytellme, Unipessoal LDA (Portugal)
- Missing Children Europe (Belgium)
- A.B. Institute of Entrepreneurship Development LTD (Cyprus)
For further information
Contact Ludovica Leotti, ludovica.leotti@cesie.org.
