Sensitive content
This site contains sensitive content that includes references to sexual violence.
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Eliminating or extending statutes of limitations for sexual violence against children ensures that time does not shield perpetrators from accountability and that justice remains accessible when survivors are ready.
Survivors of childhood sexual violence often carry their trauma for years, grappling with fear, shame, and the burden of silence. Over half of survivors first disclose their abuse at age 50 or older. More survivors first disclose between the ages of 50 to 70 than at any other age group — if they do at all. This delayed disclosure highlights the need for statutes of limitation that reflect survivors’ realities and ensure access to justice, no matter when they are able to come forward.
A statute of limitations in relation to childhood sexual violence defines the maximum amount of time a victim can wait before starting legal proceedings against the perpetrators.
Setting this limit for victims and survivors is harmful as it means that many do not receive justice if they can’t speak up within the imposed deadline.
Healing can take decades, yet these harmful laws give abusers time to escape and violate more children and adolescents.
Six countries have not yet eliminated or extended the statute of limitations for statutory rape (sex with a child under the legal age of consent), while half have done so only partially.
Two in five countries have fully eliminated statutes of limitations for statutory rape.
| Indicator | What it measures | Why it matters | Score range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 Statute of limitations reform | Whether time limits have been eliminated for reporting childhood sexual violence | Survivors often disclose years later — time limits deny justice | 0–5 |
How to interpret your country's score
4.6 Statute of limitations reform (0–5)
| 0 | Statute of limitations for statutory rape is less than five years |
| 1 | Statute of limitations is between 5 and 10 years. |
| 2 | Statute of limitations is between 11 and 15 years. |
| 3 | Statute of limitations is 16 years or longer. |
| 5 | Statutes of limitations for childhood sexual violence have been fully eliminated. |
| +1 | Limitations period does not begin to run/accrue until the victim or survivor attains the age of majority (or a later date specified by law that is at least the age of majority), rather than beginning at the time of the offense. |
Data explorer
Advocacy in action
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 Statute of limitations reform | Whether criminal statutes of limitations for childhood sexual violence have been eliminated or meaningfully extended | Ministry of Justice: legislative reform, judicial training, capacity to manage older cases | “Allocate [amount] to enact legislation eliminating criminal statutes of limitations for sexual violence against children, supported by judicial training and investigative capacity for historical cases.” |
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 |
|---|---|
| 4.6 Statute of limitations reform | Legislative review and drafting; expanded legal aid and compensation funding; expanded access to trauma-informed healing and justice services; reporting and case management systems; public education campaign |
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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.