Proudly creating a global network against child sexual abuse

One of the most important elements of successful research is collaboration. Collaboration sits at IPPPRI’s core, and enables us to leverage meaningful partnerships to make real change across policing and public protection.

A key focus for our team is research within the field of CSAE – gathering data and insights to do all we can to contribute towards global efforts to tackle this growing crime.

A more efficient approach

Because this crime touches every country, harming children from every background, academics are working at pace to play their part. Time is of the essence when it comes to influencing change, so we recognised a need to harness these efforts and bring academics with shared purpose together to learn, collaborate and deliver in partnership.

Few mechanisms were in place to effectively co-ordinate the efforts of UK-based academics and researchers working in this field, so work was being duplicated and potential impact lost due to missing opportunities to pool resources and expertise.

As a result, with our colleagues at the universities of Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Central Lancashire, we formed the Expert Network Against Child Sexual Abuse (ENACSA), which is now in its third year of operation.

Putting our heads together

The purpose of ENACSA is to create a visible, powerful research group that generates and shares knowledge, with members working together to drive change in policy and practice to prevent CSAE, improve responses to CSAE, and reduce the impacts of CSAE on all who are affected both personally and professionally.

In real terms, this means our network members look to collaborate on meaningful research projects and activities, addressing knowledge gaps, sharing what we learn, and – critically – working to improve CSAE policy and practice.

Coming together means we can explore joint grant proposals, collaborate on research papers and work together to disseminate our learning.

One of the most important projects we’re currently working on is creating a briefing paper for the government on CSAE. The government has set challenging public protection targets, such as halving the rate of violence against women and girls. This is one area of CSAE where we hope our knowledge and experience can provide the context the government needs to understand the scale of CSAE, its impact, and the many critical areas that need attention.

Policy that works is based on data and evidence, and our network holds years of this insight that has been developed for the sole purpose of influencing positive change.

Currently, our 45 network members, representing more than 30 organisations, are UK-based, but we’ll be expanding our members to welcome academics from right across the world. A global challenge needs global action.

An active network

We regularly host events, many of which are open to all, such as our series of webinars discussing some of the most important issues in this areas of research.

Our members have collaborated in the delivery of these events. At the start of the year we hosted a webinar on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) recommendations, in coordination with the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel (VSCP).

In May, we hosted a webinar on ‘researcher wellbeing matters’, with presentations from ENACSA members and their colleagues. In October, a member presented a talk titled ‘online grooming – insights from STRONG’s research on survivors, minors and groomers’.

We hope to expand these opportunities – follow our LinkedIn page or visit our webpage for further details.

We’re a welcoming, inclusive network that seeks to grow and grow. If you’re a UK-based academic researching in the field or CSAE and would like to know more about joining us, contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Prof Sam Lundrigan, Director, and Dr Deanna Davy, Dawes Senior Research Fellow, IPPPRI