One in ten children (10% of children) aged 12 to 17 using the internet in Macedonia – around 12,000 children – have been exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse using technology in a single year, according to a new report Disrupting harm in Macedonia, which highlights the urgent need for stronger systems for prevention, protection and support for children.
Technology-enabled sexual exploitation and abuse of children refers to situations involving digital, internet and communication technologies at any stage of abuse or exploitation. It can occur entirely online, through a combination of online and in-person interactions, or through live abuse that is recorded, distributed or facilitated using technology.
The consequences for the children affected are profound and require timely support and tailored services. Children exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse through technology were 11 times more likely to self-harm and 12 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or behaviors than children who had not experienced such abuse. Child professionals interviewed described long-term consequences that included shame, loss of control, sleep disturbances, stress, and the fear that the abusive material would remain online forever. “Behind every statistic in this report is a child whose trust has been lost, whose safety has been threatened, and whose well-being has been damaged. What makes this research so important is not only that it measures the scale of the problem for the first time, but also that it captures the voices and lived experiences of children and young people themselves,” said UNICEF Representative Lesley Miller.
“The evidence is clear that protecting children in the digital age requires stronger laws, better services, safer online environments, and open conversations with children,” added Miller.
