Today is CSE Awareness Day. This is an annual awareness day which has been running for 5 years. The day is in aid of raising awareness about child exploitation and aims to highlight the issues of surrounding CSE encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or pressure of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.

The NWG organisation are committed to fighting against child sexual exploitation and supporting victims and families who are going through traumatic times.

Research by the NSPCC has identified that 1 in 20 children have been sexually abused. 90% of them by someone they knew. However, of the 43,000 children in England who are subject to a child protection plan at any given time, only around 5% are on a plan for sexual abuse.

More than one in three children (34%) who experienced contact sexual abuse from a peer did not tell anyone about it. Situations like this need to be raised, to make more children and young people aware of sexual abuse and what to do and who they can speak to if they feel at threat.

‘Say something if you see something’ Help to improve the chances of young people being heard and to sexual abuse and trafficking through awareness of CSE.