This May, Global Survivor Network Members, Ruby* survivor leader from the Philippines and GSN Leadership Council member and Josephine Aparo, survivor leader and founding member of the GSN Leadership Council from Uganda visited Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress, advocate for policy change and collaborate with other leaders.
On Wednesday, January 31, members of Congress called Big Tech CEOs to account for how their technology has contributed to Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC). This problem has impacted minors globally; kids are coerced, exploited and abused on social media platforms. Blackmailers push have pushed children to suicide. Others are captured and abused to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) – made available to pedophiles via social media. The Global Survivors Network calls CEOs from Meta (Facebook/Instagram), X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, Discord and Snapchat to take responsibility and to act to protect children from experiencing harm through their platforms.
On September 19th, 2023, Josephine Aparo testified before the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organization regarding her own experience of war and violence.
Vanessa urged lawmakers to keep survivors involved in the development of legislation that is needed to combat online child sexual exploitation and to ensure financial restitution for survivors. She also shared specific recommendations for lawmakers to hold tech companies accountable for preventing the distribution of CSAM and removing such content from their platforms, referencing the ongoing survivor-led advocacy to petition Apple to enact child safety measures.
On International Women’s Day, 2023, the Global Survivor Network calls for an end to violence against women and girls and for global and national investments in protection, justice, and empowerment.
On February 8th, 2023, survivor leaders in the Philippines proudly launched the Philippine Survivor Network (PSN). The PSN is poised to strengthen survivor voices, increase advocacy, and fight against violence in communities throughout the Philippines. There was great celebration as groups that had already been meeting for years, some for over a decade came together to form a National Survivor Network. The two local chapters based in Cebu and Manila, joined together to unify in their national identity.
GSN local chapters launched in Uganda
The Global Survivor Network (GSN) joins the Global Movement to Secure Justice and Protection From Violence For Children and endorses its goal of ending childhood sexual violence by 2030. The United Nations officially voted this month to recognize November 18, as World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence, a unique moment for survivors, allies, and partners to mobilize, and make our voices heard. We commend the Council of Europe and Global Collaborative for initiating the efforts last year.
HOPE IN FREEDOM - Survivors Come Together to Fight Child Trafficking
Survivors in Ghana come together for 'My Story Counts' launch day.
This article was published in El Pais newspaper on June 28, 2021 in Spanish: https://elpais.com/planeta-fut...
On International Women’s Day 2021, Victoria Nyanjura discussed her own journey as a survivor of violence and the role of survivors within their communities, civil society organizations, and nations with International Justice Mission.