By Helen Naples | Communications Specialist
We have never "flattened the curve" of online child sexual abuse imagery. The problem continues to grow exponentially, and has, in fact, been exacerbated by global quarantines. With perpetrators, children, and end-users all at home online, there are simply more opportunities for abusers to groom minors. NCMEC (the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children), which serves as a global clearinghouse for child sexual abuse imagery, reported a surge of online child abuse complaints surpassing 4 million in April 2020 alone.
While the HUG Project team assisted 36 young victims of sexual abuse and exploitation in the year 2019, HUG staff have already provided support for 108 children in 23 cases so far in 2020. In one case alone, 3 traffickers and 7 end users were arrested. Together with our partners in the TICAC (Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children) task force, HUG is working not only to bring perpetrators to justice, but also to facilitate restoration and healing for victims and their families. For example, even with social distancing, HUG staff have been providing virtual counseling. "Victims are seeking more mental health support during the spread of COVID-19. They are starting to open up and share their struggles without fear of being judged," explains one HUG counselor. "We hope they will continue to process deeply into the root of their problems, and to work on the core of their issues."
By Helen Naples | Communications Specialist
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