Online violence: Sexual crimes targeting children under 14 on the rise in Ukraine

Reports indicate a disturbing trend in Ukraine, where sexual crimes online are increasingly targeting children under the age of 14. 

Anastasiya Dyakova, Founder of the educational project #stop_sexting, revealed this alarming information during a recent roundtable discussion at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

According to Dyakova, there has been a concerning shift in the demographics of victims of online violence, particularly in sexual crimes. She stated, “In Ukraine, we’re witnessing a younger demographic falling prey to violence, especially sexual offenses. While previously, our focus was on children aged 14-16, now we’re seeing a significant rise in cases involving children under 14.”

Furthermore, Dyakova highlighted data from The Internet Watch Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to combatting child sexual abuse online. They reported that every 140 seconds, they uncover materials from the past year related to child sexual abuse on the Internet, underscoring the urgent need for action to protect vulnerable young individuals.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news