Council of Europe: “Nothing about us without us” - New guidelines on engaging with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence
In occassion of the latest International Children’s Day of the 1st of June, The Council of Europe has recently published new guidelines on engaging with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence, aiming to raise further awareness of the matter and decrease the stigma experienced by victims and survivors.
The “Nothing about us without us” guidelines were developed by Professors Caroline Taylor and Sophie Otiende, two experts in the theme of engagement and facilitation of victim and survivor participation in policy making, and are based on a holistic and evidence-informed approach.
According to the guidelines, which are a direct outcome of the 2023 edition of the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, policy makers should ensure that the engagement with victims and survivors follows a series of key principles and actions, mainly:
- ensuring a trauma-informed engagement, acknowledging therefore the role of trauma and its effects;
- sustaining the self-determination of those involved, mainly giving people the possibility of remaining anonymous, and ensuring uninterrupted consent;
- empowering and valuing survivors and victims, ensuring compensation, accessibility, and transparency;
- and assuring equality, taking into account the diversity of victims and survivors.
The authors sustain that “Child sexual violence and exploitation is an urgent and unremitting issue across the globe. Genuine and strategic engagement with survivor advocates in the development, design and implementation of policy, legislation and programmes are key to eradicating these heinous crimes against children…”
The guidelines have not been projected to engage with children under the age of 18.