Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence

This report provides a roadmap to end childhood sexual violence.

“Building Safe Futures: Solutions to end childhood sexual violence” is a comprehensive evidence review highlighting what works to prevent and respond to childhood sexual violence in low- and middle-income countries. This report was published by Safe Futures Hub – a joint initiative of Together for Girls, WeProtect Global Alliance, and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).

This research provides critical guidance for investments, legislative action, policy development, and program implementation to reduce the prevalence and impact of childhood sexual violence. It ensures that advocates, policymakers, and frontline workers worldwide can access, adapt, and apply effective solutions to end this crisis.

With input and endorsement from 24 leading violence prevention organizations across the globe and with the support of Oak Foundation, the systematic review of evidence updates previous reviews and profiles effective ways to end childhood sexual violence. It screens and classifies dozens of interventions using the INSPIRE framework, and offers insights for program implementation and further research.

The report addresses an important gap in knowledge by focusing on evidence from lower- and middle-income countries, recognizing that much of the existing global evidence highlights research from high-income countries. Examples of effective intervention types highlighted in the review include:

Adolescent development clubs (such as the Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents program in Uganda) can reduce the risk of sexual violence for adolescents and youth, especially during vulnerable periods. These clubs teach skills like earning and saving money, and making healthy choices. They can also offer fun activities, emotional support, and confidence-building.

Parenting programs can help caregivers reduce risks and talk about, prevent, and respond to sexual violence. The review found examples of impactful programs focused on parents of preschoolers and programs focused on parents of adolescents (such as "My Mother is My Best Friend" in Sri Lanka).

Teacher training focused on delivering inclusive, engaging, age-appropriate prevention lessons (such as a preschool sexual abuse prevention program that was implemented in Iran) can boost children's protective factors, such as improving knowledge and self-efficacy skills.

Cash-plus interventions targeting women and adolescent girls combine various activities, including cash transfers and other elements such as skills training, community engagement, and sexual violence prevention sessions. An example is Girl Empower in Liberia, which provided unconditional cash transfers and life skills training for adolescent girls in addition to caregiver support.

Ultimately, the research has a hopeful message. This review shows that practical, scalable solutions exist to prevent and disrupt this cycle. Childhood sexual violence can—and must—be stopped. We have the tools; now it’s up to us to act, scale these solutions, and end sexual violence against children. Together, we can create a safer world for every child.