News

At MCF we are fully committed to ensuring the response to technology-assisted child sexual abuse and exploitation is one that supports the child and their family on the road to recovery. If you, or someone you know or work with, has been the victim of this crime, you are not alone. Contact us for support at help@mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk. Data published by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) (https://www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/news/sexual-abuse-imagery-of-girls-online-at-record-high-following-pandemic-lockdowns/) yesterday shows girls are at increasing risk online.

Ten years ago, 65% all child sexual abuse material identified analysts featured the sexual abuse of girls. The latest data shows this to have increased to 97% in 2021

This is a 374% increase of ‘self-generated’ imagery on pre-pandemic levels. By this we mean material has been made by a child themselves on a webcam enabled device. However, these children have often been tricked, bullied, or coerced into performing sexual acts by an adult sexual predator who has groomed them online. It is important to understand the child is not to blame for the production.