Recent reports on the discovery of suspected child sexual abuse material have understandably attracted considerable media attention. But amid the focus on the investigation, one crucial question must not be overlooked: are we considering what this discovery may mean for victims and survivors?
If some of these photographs date back decades, the children depicted may now be adults, with lives they have spent years building. Some may never have known their abuse was photographed. Others may have long lived with the uncertainty of whether such images exist - news of a discovery like this can bring that uncertainty painfully back into focus.
At the Marie Collins Foundation, we work with victims and survivors of technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TACSA). We understand that the impact of recorded abuse does not necessarily end when a child becomes an adult. The loss of control, the uncertainty and the possibility of being recognised can remain a concern long after the abuse itself.
Photographs may be decades old, but the fear of where they might end up does not necessarily fade with time.
That is why victim identification must be about more than establishing who appears in an image for the purposes of a criminal investigation. It must also consider what happens to those individuals if they are identified, how they are approached, what information they are given and what specialist support is available to them.
We cannot assume that an adult survivor's needs are the same as those of a child. Nor should we assume that identifying someone automatically means they are ready to revisit what happened to them. Their wishes, privacy and wellbeing must be central to any safeguarding response.
Investigations that cross borders makes that responsibility even more important. Authorities across different countries must be able to share information effectively, but cooperation must extend beyond identifying suspects and gathering evidence. It must include protecting and supporting those whose abuse may have been recorded.
This is why I am calling on governments, law enforcement agencies and those responsible for victim identification to ensure that adult survivors are considered in every investigation involving images of child sexual abuse.
There must be clear procedures for identifying and approaching adults who may have been abused as children, recognising their individual needs and wishes, and ensuring they can access specialist, trauma-aware support. That support must not depend on whether an offender is identified, prosecuted or convicted.
At the Marie Collins Foundation, we work extensively with law enforcement agencies, providing specialist training and guidance, and collaborate with organisations around the world to strengthen responses to technology-assisted child sexual abuse. We encourage law enforcement agencies and other professionals facing these challenges to contact us for specialist advice, training and guidance on supporting victims and survivors, including those who are now adults. Further information is available at www.mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk.
Equally, I want to speak directly to anyone who experienced sexual abuse as a child and is worried that images of their abuse may still exist. You do not have to face those concerns alone. Whether something in the news has brought back difficult memories or you are struggling with uncertainty about images of your own abuse, the Marie Collins Foundation is here to offer specialist advice and support. You can contact us at help@mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk.
We cannot change what happened to the child in the photograph. But we can change what happens to the adult when those images are found.
- Lawrence Jordan, CEO