Modernize legal frameworks to reflect
how sexual abuse happens today.
Legal systems must keep pace with the realities of sexual abuse
in a digital age.
• Strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing laws
by investing in specialized law enforcement, judicial capacity, digital
forensic capabilities and child-centred investigative procedures, while
ensuring these coordinate effectively with victim services. Governments
should regularly assess and address gaps between legislation and
practice to ensure offences are investigated, perpetrators are held
accountable and children receive timely protection and support.
• Update national legislation to comprehensively cover all forms of
technology-facilitated child sexual abuse and exploitation; this includes,
for example, explicitly criminalizing online grooming, sexual extortion,
livestreaming of abuse and the possession or viewing of child sexual
abuse material, including abuse involving self-generated content and
the production of AI-generated sexual content depicting children.
Through Children’s Eyes
Recommendations
42