Canada earns “C-” grade of 71.4/100 in evaluation of policies to end sexual violence against children and adolescents

The 2026 Out of the Shadows Index ranks 60 countries on laws and policies to address childhood sexual violence

• The 2026 Out of the Shadows Index ranks 60 countries, across six regions – together home to 83% of the world’s children – on national action to address sexual violence against children and adolescents.
• Canada ranks 1st regionally with a score of 71.4/100 and is home to approximately 7.3 million children and adolescents.
• Advocates call for Canada to create a National Action Plan, among other measures.

GENEVA, May 18, 2026 — Canada ranks 1st in the Americas and Caribbean region, and 5th within its income category, with an overall score of 71.4 out of 100 in the 2026 Out of the Shadows Index, a new global benchmark assessing countries based on the minimum laws, policies, and services necessary to address sexual violence against children and adolescents. The Index, researched and developed by Economist Impact with advocacy led by Together for Girls, assesses 60 countries representing 83% of the world’s children across 4 pillars: Governance and Accountability (coordinated national action); Prevention (child protection); Healing (high-quality care); and Justice (strong legal systems). The Index does not measure the prevalence of such violence.

“Behind every data point in this Index is a child whose life has been shaped by violence,” said Elly Vaughan, who led the research at Economist Impact. “Across all 60 countries we evaluated, our research reveals critical gaps in child protection systems. In Canada, meaningful progress on Justice and Prevention is being undercut by weak Healing and Governance and Accountability frameworks. The picture that emerges is troubling: no country is doing enough to protect children and teenagers from sexual violence.”

Canada’s scores on the four pillars are as follows:

• Governance and Accountability: 68.1/100
• Prevention: 70/100
• Healing: 50/100
• Justice: 79.4/100

“It’s shocking that Canada, which had the highest score in the Americas and Caribbean region, still only earned the equivalent of a C- with a score of 71.4/100. Our children, especially Indigenous children – the most impacted group – need the Canadian people to stand up and demand more from our government,” says Rosalia Rivera, co-founder of the Brave Movement. “The Canadian government must invest in Indigenous‑led, culturally grounded, trauma‑informed child and family services that rebuild trust in public systems and strengthen community capacity to prevent child sexual abuse. We must use the Out of the Shadows Index as a roadmap for action to end sexual violence. Only when action is being taken consistently across all indicators will children and adolescents be safe.” 

Together for Girls, the advocacy lead for the Out of the Shadows Index, identified recommendations for the Canadian government to improve its systems, including:

• Establish a National Survivors Council.
• Increase overall budget transparency.
• Update the National Action Plan to include a detailed implementation framework with responsible actors, costings and timelines.
• Ratify key protective international legal instruments.
• Train physicians on sexual violence against children.

With a global commitment to eliminate childhood sexual violence by 2030 — and no country currently on track — the findings underscore the need for sustained prevention-focused investment and continued strengthening of survivor-informed policymaking.

PRESS CONTACTS

For questions about the research, contact: media@economist.com

For questions about how to use the Index to drive advocacy and engagement efforts, contact: Christy Delafield christy@togetherforgirls.org 

Notes to editors:

Support and resources: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, support is available. Find resources by country.

About the Out of the Shadows Index: The Out of the Shadows Index is the global benchmark of national governments' efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence against children and adolescents. The Index is researched and developed by Economist Impact, with advocacy and engagement efforts led by Together for Girls.

It ranks 60 countries across 6 regions, which together are home to 83% of the world’s children. The Index scores countries across 23 indicators, covering laws, policies, programs, and services that a government should have in place to end sexual violence against children and adolescents in their country.

First launched in 2019 and updated in 2022, the 2026 edition marks its third iteration, and the 4th will be launched in 2027.