ACT Partners with Charité to Launch ACT-PILOT, A Global Prevention Initiative
ACT Against Child Abuse is proud to announce a major milestone in our mission to prevent child sexual abuse through a new collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin’s Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine.
The Advancing Capacity for Treatment – Prevention through International Learning and Operational Training (ACT-PILOT) project has been selected as a grantee by Safe Online to address a critical gap in global child protection: the shortage of evidence-based perpetration prevention programs for people with a sexual interest in children.
Breaking New Ground in Prevention
Despite growing recognition that prevention is essential to protecting children, organisations worldwide face significant barriers when trying to establish & sustain programs for individuals with a sexual interest in children who are actively seeking support. ACT-PILOT will systematically capture the experiences of both successful and unsuccessful prevention programs and transform them into practical, globally applicable implementation guidelines.
“Building global treatment capacity for those who seek help to avoid abuse or consuming CSAM is urgent. With Safe Online’s support, this project expands prevention for at-risk individuals who are not known to the justice system, a critical step toward combating childhood sexual trauma,” said Prof. Klaus M. Beier, MD, PhD, Head of the Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine at Charité.
A Truly Global Approach
The 24-month project will engage experts and organisations from multiple continents, ensuring that the resulting guidelines are culturally sensitive and adaptable to diverse legal and social contexts. The project will draw on the extensive expertise of Charité’s Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine, internationally recognised for its pioneering work in the prevention of child sexual abuse and treatment of sexual disorders, but critically, rather than simply exporting a single model, the project will synthesise experiences from multiple successful programs to create adaptable frameworks that can be tailored to local contexts.
The project comprises of three core objectives:
- Establish & pilot guidelines for the implementation of CSA/CSAM perpetration prevention interventions focusing on individuals with a sexual interest in children
- Increase the number of trained professionals in CSA/CSAM perpetration prevention focusing on individuals with a sexual interest in children
- Create a global Community of Practice for professionals working in CSA/CSAM perpetration prevention focusing on individuals with a sexual interest in children
Looking Ahead
ACT-PILOT builds directly on the foundation established by ACT Against Child Abuse since its inception. The project fulfils our commitment to move beyond individual program development toward systematic capacity building that can transform the global landscape of child protection.
The project will officially launch in the coming months. Organisations interested in contributing or learning more are encouraged to express their interest. To do so, contact ACT Against Child Abuse.
Learn more about Charité’s Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine at https://sexualmedizin.charite.de/en/
