2.5 Availability of helpline

A free, nationwide, child-friendly helpline providing both initial counselling and referrals is a lifeline for children at-risk or experiencing harm. It creates a confidential and child-friendly pathway for reporting violence and seeking support — especially for those who may not feel safe speaking to authorities. 

Half of countries have a helpline that is available 24/7 with both voice and messaging options as well as counseling and referrals to services. 

Sixteen countries have a functional helpline that could better serve children with expanded hours or access options. 

Fifteen countries have no functional helpline to support children with experiences of sexual violence.

Indicator	What it measures	Why it matters	Score range
2.5 Availability of helpline	Whether the country has a nationwide, toll-free helpline accessible to all children and adolescents, available 24/7, with voice and text options, counseling, and referrals	A child or adolescent in crisis needs a safe, immediate, and confidential way to reach someone who can help — at any hour	0–2

How to interpret your country's score

2.5 Availability of helpline (0–2)

0	No nationwide, toll-free helpline exists for children and adolescents, or it is not available country-wide, or no information is publicly available.
1	A nationwide helpline is available but with limitations: it may not operate 24/7, may lack text or messaging options, or may not provide referral mechanisms.
2	A nationwide helpline is available 24/7, with voice, messaging, and text options, offering counseling and referral to appropriate services.

From indicators to budget lines

Use this as a guide to strengthen your advocacy requests and create targeted ‘asks’ to decision-makers within the right Ministry (for example: Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, or Finance)

Indicator	What it tracks	Budget-line-to target	Template language
2.5 Availability of helpline	Whether the country has a nationwide, toll-free, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week helpline accessible to all children and adolescents with voice, text, and referral services	Ministry of Social Welfare / Child Protection: national helpline operations, staffing, technology infrastructure, counselor training, referral systems	"Allocate [amount] to establish and sustain a nationwide, toll-free, 24/7 child helpline with voice and text-based options, trained counselors, and referral mechanisms to appropriate child protection services.”

How to put a number on your ask

Break your ask into building blocks a Finance Ministry would recognize. Even a rough component-based estimate signals seriousness:

Indicator	Examples of components to estimate
2.5 Child helpline	Telecommunications infrastructure and toll-free line; counselor recruitment and training; 24/7 shift staffing; referral system coordination; text and digital access channels

 

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Third Richest Nation

www.bravemovement.org/campaigns/third-richest-nation

A world without childhood violence would be $7 trillion richer. This nation isn’t real. Its wealth could be. Brave Movement's survivor-led advocacy campaign at the G20 in 2025 pressured decision makers to invest in prevention, healing and justice to create stronger, happier nations.

#BeBrave G7 Scorecard 2025

www.bravemovement.org/g7

By evaluating each G7 nation’s progress on vital policy measures we're drawing global attention to the global, silent pandemic of sexual violence against children. This is a crisis that undermines the G7's commitment to building secure, prosperous, and equitable societies. Kids need bold leadership and decisive action now to be safe and thrive.

Break the record

www.togetherforgirls.org/en/press/a-record-breaking-event-now-governments-must-deliver

We broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the most countries represented at a childhood violence summit! With 120 governments attending, this first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children was the largest organized event to address this issue on a global scale. Most importantly, as a result, we also broke the world’s record of inaction against childhood sexual violence.

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