How ChildX works with survivors
ChildX is actively working to develop a trauma-informed approach with survivor expertise at the center. Through the safe, ethical and sustainable inclusion of survivors’ voices and experiences, we want to ensure that children and young people who have experienced sexual violence are heard, seen and that the work is based on the needs they define as important.
A survivor perspective means that we start from the rights and interests of survivors and that their unique expertise should inform the work to prevent and stop child sexual exploitation. Those affected by the work should also be part of shaping it – it is essential to include survivors’ voices in all processes that affect them; policy, legislation and interventions/programs.
Working from this perspective results in higher quality of work, makes the activities relevant to the target group and based on their needs and wishes, and is more effective as we gain insight into what actually works. We believe that survivors of violence are experts on what needs to be done to prevent/prevent others from being affected in the future. It is this expertise that should be the focus and not to include survivors by having them share their traumatic experiences. This needs to be done in a safe and ethical way that harnesses knowledge and solutions, rather than the exploitation of trauma, individual focus and token inclusion. It is structural change that we aim for but which is rooted in lived experience of the problem we want to counteract and prevent.
Regardless of whether the organization does not have people who identify themselves as survivors publicly or internally in the organization, there are survivors. Sexual violence is so widespread in our society that there are people with lived experiences of victimization in all organizations. In organizations that work to prevent or counteract sexual exploitation/violence against children, it is even more likely that there will be people who have previously been subjected to sexual violence, as early experiences can increase the propensity to work to prevent others from being subjected in the future. We therefore need to start from a trauma-informed approach for the organization as a whole and create structures and working methods that work for everyone who works with us.