The Home Affairs, Interior, Security, and Immigration Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States have issued a declaration emphasizing the significance of incorporating the voices and experiences of victims and survivors in efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The ministers acknowledged the ongoing advocacy work by survivors' coalitions like Phoenix 11 from the United States and Canada.
"We want to acknowledge the important work and advocacy of survivors’ coalitions," they stated. These groups continue to urge governments, lawmakers, and industries to prioritize children's safety online.
The ministers recognized that more needs to be done in combating this crime. "We acknowledge that more work needs to be done to ensure all levers are used," they admitted. They emphasized that insights from victims and survivors are crucial for meaningful change.
A commitment was made by these ministers to engage more proactively with victims and organizations supporting them. "We...commit to work more proactively and collaboratively with victims," they affirmed. This collaboration aims at informing policies through lived experiences.
Efforts will focus on a victim-centric approach. "Our commitment...rests on the understanding that respect, care and protection...are central," they noted. This approach is expected to empower victims in reporting abuse while accessing necessary support.
The Five Country Ministerial Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Working Group plans engagement with organizations later in 2024 for further action planning.
