Our new report out today, Ending Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Women and Girls: A Call for International Standards found that women and girls are particularly vulnerable as offenders take advantage of the sex, gender, and structural discrimination inherent in our patriarchal society.

We’re calling on international and regional bodies, national governments, and digital service providers and platforms to take action. 

Online sexual exploitation and abuse (OSEA) includes online grooming, live-streaming of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online sexual coercion and extortion, online sex trafficking, and image-based sexual abuse.

Predators are increasingly using social media and online gaming platforms to target potential victims because these platforms offer anonymity and operate under very limited regulation.

1. There is no single internationally binding instrument that specifically defines and combats online sexual exploitation and abuse.

2. A lack of consistent legislation and internationally adopted laws on online sexual exploitation and abuse make accessing justice extremely challenging.

3. Regulations on digital service providers and platforms are inconsistent and often do not do enough to protect users against online sexual exploitation and abuse.

4. An inherent tension exists between digital rights and freedoms with the right to protection and safety against online sexual exploitation and abuse.

In solidarity,

Tsitsi Matekaire 

Global Lead, Ending Sexual Exploitation