Showing that child sexual abuse is not only carried out by “others”. It is in every neighbourhood, including yours
One in ten children in the UK experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16. It happens in families across all communities. Yet most cases go unreported, and it is not talked about enough. When it is discussed, commentators tend to focus on high-profile incidents which are often different in nature to the majority of cases.
Few issues are worthier of focused attention from Parliamentarians. Yet political engagement – where it happens at all – is often superficial at best, actively unhelpful at worst. The issue makes people uncomfortable, causing many to be reluctant to engage at all.
Three charities who specialise in tackling child sexual abuse – the Marie Collins Foundation, Lucy Faithfull Foundation and the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse – appointed Fourteen Forty (along with our partners Claremont), to help them raise their profile in Parliament to drive policy solutions.
What’s going on
Child sexual abuse seen as a criminal issue, not a systemic one
Why it matters
Limits political focus, prevention, and long-term change
What most people get wrong
They focus on individual cases, not the wider system
What we did
- Define the issue
Child sexual abuse is not distant or exceptional. It happens closer to home. In every neighbourhood, including yours - Shift perception
From isolated crimes to a political and public policy issue - Create value
Reframed the debate to drive political attention and action
Outcome
Raised prominence on the political agenda
Shifted how the issue is understood
Momentum for policy focus