… we can believe that we can leave the world a better place, it is just incredible and a real testament to the journey we’ve been on as well.
Reflections from survivor groups on public advocacy, and how professionals can learn from their work
The Step forward. Take a chance. You’re not alone. Reflections from the Phoenix 11 and Chicago Males on their experiences as public advocates for survivors of child sexual abuse material report draws on interviews with members of two survivor groups about the impact of their activist journeys for a community that has long been silenced.
This is the first known research to explore how participating in advocacy impacts CSAM survivors. All survivors interviewed identified that engaging in public, collective advocacy had life-changing effects on them, including increased self-esteem, confidence, and quality of life.
This report is accompanied by a companion guide Working with survivors of child sexual abuse material. Five principles for professionals which was developed through interviews with 12 professionals, including law enforcement, lawyers, and mental health workers, about their engagement with child sexual abuse material survivors. They shared five key principles to inform professional engagement with CSAM survivors across a variety of settings.
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About Prof. Michael Salter and Dr. Delanie Woodlock: This research report was written by Prof. Michael Salter and Dr. Delanie Woodlock from the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) on behalf of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. UNSW Sydney, is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1949, UNSW Sydney is one of the founding members of Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive universities. For more information visit https://www.unsw.edu.au/.
Prof. Salter is the Scientia Associate Professor of Criminology at the School of Social Sciences at UNSW and an expert in child sexual exploitation and gendered violence. He applies critical and feminist theory to the study of complex trauma, with a focus on intersections with technology. Dr. Woodlock is a feminist researcher with a focus on understanding and preventing men's violence against women and children. Her work particularly examines the critical role of technology in domestic violence and child sexual abuse.