Most harm comes from people children know: Children face risks from both adults and peers: 57% Over 1 in 4 cases were perpetrated by other children.† 57 per cent of cases involved perpetrators already known to children, including friends, family members, or romantic partners. While about 1 in 3 were perpetrated by adults. † Harm can begin online and in physical spaces: Unknown individuals still present risks to children: In 38 per cent of cases on average, children first met the perpetrator online, making the internet the most common point of contact for the types of technology-facilitated sexual abuse captured in the Disrupting Harm survey. This was closely followed by school (26 per cent) and public places (23 per cent), underscoring that risks span both digital and physical environments. 16% 38% Online 27% In 27 per cent of cases, children were unable to identify the perpetrator or chose not to disclose their identity. 26% School 23% Public places Through Children’s Eyes 16 per cent of cases involved perpetrators who were complete strangers. Who abuses children? 22

Select target paragraph3