Undoubtedly, in today’s digital age, the safety of children online is a growing concern. Cases of online child abuse and grooming have risen by a staggering 80% in the past four years. European hotlines for missing children have also reported that grooming seems to play a role in the increasing cases of children going missing, especially those who run away. In response to these alarming trends, the CESAGRAM project was launched.

CESAGRAM aims to fill the gaps in our understanding of how missing children are linked to online grooming for sexual purposes. The project’s goal is to stop online grooming and prevent situations that could lead to child abuse and disappearances. With experts from all over Europe coming together, CESAGRAM is working towards making sure children have a safer online future.

As we mark the one-year anniversary since the launch of the CESAGRAM project, we are thrilled to share some significant updates on the strides made in combating online grooming and protecting children from the dangers of tech-facilitated exploitation.

We held three training sessions with psychologists across Europe focused on trauma-informed interviewing techniques. These efforts have resulted in insightful interviews with survivors of tech-facilitated grooming and missing, providing invaluable knowledge about risk factors and the experiences of victims during the grooming process.

Simultaneously, CESAGRAM is conducting a comprehensive analysis of legislation in multiple countries. This analysis will form the basis of a detailed report with findings and recommendations, including a model framework for a comprehensive legislative and policy approach against tech-facilitated grooming.

CESAGRAM’s  partners have designed and are working on the development of an online gamified digital platform designed to empower young individuals, at the age of 11-14 year-old, to recognise grooming behaviors.

In addition,  the development of an AI tool that allows us to comprehensively assess online content and communication is under process.

Moreover,  the Knowledge Hub, can be found in CESAGRAM’s website, which is designed to promote project outcomes, raise awareness on Child Sexual Abuse, and contribute to expertise building.

Looking ahead, CESAGRAM is dedicated to fostering better knowledge exchange and we are partnering up with sister projects which will be announced soon. As we reflect on the strides made in the first year of CESAGRAM, we invite everyone to join us in supporting this crucial project. Together, we can create a safer online environment for our children, ensuring their protection from the threats of online grooming!