Sexual abuse and the use of materials depicting child sexual abuse (CSAM) is a problem that has serious consequences, and adults have a duty to protect children from it. The Internet, instant messaging and artificial intelligence make photos and videos available at your fingertips like never before, and children are exposed to new forms of abuse. The scale is growing very dynamically. The Interpol Child Sexual Abuse database currently contains more than 2.7 million photos and videos of sexual abuse and child abuse. At the same time, almost half (48.1%) of CSAM users expressed a desire to stop using CSAM, and yet 73.9% of people seeking help did not receive effective support, indicating a significant gap in available intervention resources.

Prevention is the best protection factor against use. That is why we are working with the Finnish organization Protect Children, which created the Redirect program. The We Give Children Strength Foundation is implementing a new version of this solution.

The Redirect program is an anonymous self-improvement program based on the principles of behavioral and cognitive therapy, available online. Its goal is to help participants adopt a lifestyle where there is no place to view child Sexual Abuse (CSAM) content. The program teaches you how to manage your emotions, thoughts, and behavior in order to consciously change your life and stop accessing harmful content. During the program, participants learn what makes them use CSAM, why they should stop, and ultimately how they can change their behavior to achieve long-term effects. The Redirect platform is easily accessible, anonymous, and free. Starting and completing the entire course does not require any special knowledge, equipment, or third-party involvement. Thus, it is easily accessible to any user.

Poland version: https://www. redirectionprogram. com/

Along with legal solutions related to the early detection and punishment of crimes, in deterring criminals, it is extremely important to make preventive efforts related to strengthening the mechanisms of their internal control (empathy, emotional self-regulation) and external (social ties and norms, sense of belonging). In Poland, access to these types of services is very limited, and their preventive potential is greatly underestimated, although these actions really protect children, and it is the protection of children that is their essence.