Indicateur
Laws against child sexual abuse
Laws against childhood sexual abuse
Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation
| Indicator | What it measures | Why it matters | Score range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 Laws against childhood sexual violence | Seven sub-indicators covering age of consent; contact/non-contact violence; intrafamilial sexual abuse; abuse of power; trafficking; and sexual exploitation | Clear definitions close legal gaps and strengthen prosecution | 0–2 |
Advocacy in action
Analysis coming soon
4.3.2. Contact sexual violence
Explicitly criminalizing rape and sexual assault against children ensures these crimes are clearly defined and prosecutable.
All countries have criminalized contact sexual violence against children.
However, one country’s law only protects girls, leaving boys excluded.
4.3.3. Non-contact sexual violence
Non-contact sexual violence includes causing a child to witness sexual acts or violence for sexual purposes.
All countries have criminalized non-contact sexual violence.
However, one country’s law only protects girls, leaving boys without a safeguard.
4.3.4. Intrafamilial child sexual abuse
Explicitly criminalizing intrafamilial abuse ensures perpetrators cannot evade accountability because of their relationship to the child.
Almost one-third of countries explicitly criminalize intrafamilial child sexual abuse against both boys and girls by a range of family members, while a half have partial bans.
Twelve countries have not clearly prohibited intrafamilial sexual abuse.
4.3.5. Positions of authority or trust
Clearly criminalizing sexual activity against a person under age 18 by a person in a position of authority or influence ensures children are protected against misuse of power and are free to play and learn free from violence and abuse.
Nearly a third of countries have fully criminalized sexual abuse of children and adolescents by persons in a position of authority or influence in multiple settings. However, half of countries have done so only partially, while ten have not explicitly banned sexual abuse by people in positions of authority.
4.3.6. Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation
Aligning with international law to ban recruitment, transportation, harbouring, and transferring children for purposes of sexual exploitation ensures children are protected everywhere and strengthens cross-border accountability.
All countries have at least partially banned trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation.
Two-thirds of countries have full bans
A third of countries have only partial bans or legal frameworks that are inconsistent with international standards.
4.3.7. Sexual exploitation
Laws banning both purchasing sex acts with a child and forcing a child to have exploitative sex provide a protective legal framework through which perpetrators can be held accountable.
More than half of countries have not banned both buying and selling children for purposes of sexual exploitation (i.e., prostitution), with the legal frameworks of countries across income levels and regions falling short.
Explorateur de données
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 measures | Budget-line-to target | Template language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 Laws against childhood sexual violence (4.3.1–4.3.7) | Whether legislation comprehensively criminalizes all forms of sexual violence against children: contact, non-contact, intrafamilial, by persons in authority, trafficking, and exploitation | Ministry of Justice: legislative review and reform, legal drafting, parliamentary process, training for judiciary and prosecutors on new provisions | “Allocate [amount] for a comprehensive legislative review to ensure all forms of sexual violence against children are explicitly criminalized, including intrafamilial abuse, abuse by persons in positions of trust, and all elements of trafficking for sexual exploitation.” |
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 |
|---|---|
| 4.3 Laws against childhood sexual violence | Comprehensive legislative review; legal drafting consultancy; judiciary and prosecutor training on new provisions; community legal awareness |
Partagez votre histoire
Partagez votre expérience, vos recherches et vos réussites en utilisant l'Index dans votre travail !
Partagez votre histoire