Knowledge to Prevent (2KNOW) - Protecting Children from Online Crimes of Sexual Violence

ended

Project Knowledge to Prevent (2KNOW) aims to support and improve national and international data collection on violence against children by developing a sustainable and replicable data collection model that is suited to gathering information about online violence against children. In the project, we will put this data collection methodology to use and gather data directly from anonymous offenders searching for child sexual abuse material on the dark web and the surface web, to understand more about the patterns, characteristics, and trends of online crimes of sexual violence against children today. The data collected will be analyzed extensively, producing innovative and cutting edge research on sexual violence against children online. The findings of this research will be translated into direct preventative action to protect children from harm, through the development of a support guide for all parents on online safety skills for children in general and a separate guide for parents whose child has been subjected to sexual violence online. Project 2KNOW will also produce a model for parental peer-support groups, to be run in Finland and two other EU member states, to provide practical and psychoeducational support for parents, carers and families - in turn providing essential support to child victims to protect them from further abuse. The project will also collect invaluable information on child victims’ and their families’ experiences to broaden the understanding of online sexual violence against children.