Preventing child sexual abuse – evaluation of a concerning sexual ideation intervention pilot

Sexual abuse affects many children in Aotearoa New Zealand. It has devasting impacts yet is preventable. Ministry of Justice (2016) figures show that 84% of child sexual abuse convictions in any year are given to individuals not previously known to have committed sexual offences.¹

Prevention approaches to child sexual abuse often focus on the rehabilitation of people who have already offended. This misses the opportunity to prevent child sexual abuse before it happens and prevents repeat, undetected offending.

There is a gap in services for people who want help for their concerning sexual ideation about children and young people. 

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) commissioned a team led by the University of Canterbury to develop an evidence-based preventive treatment for those who experience attraction to children or young people, without requiring them to have acted on this interest and harmed a child or young person first.

The resulting pilot and research programme, Concerning Sexual Ideation: Stand Strong, Walk Tall, included two phases. Phase One focused on developing the intervention and Phase Two piloted and evaluated the intervention.

Findings support the effectiveness of the pilot intervention

Nineteen people took part in the pilot and received treatment. As a result, they showed improvements in several areas, including those related to preventing harmful sexual behaviour. Findings support the effectiveness of the intervention.

The pilot findings help us to better understand the treatment needs of those who experience sexual attraction towards children and/or young people.

The findings also provide evidence to help inform how specialist therapeutic services can be effectively promoted to those who experience sexual attraction towards children and/or young people.

The programme contributes to the ‘Stopping violence’, ‘Protecting children and young people’, and ‘Preventing violence before it starts’ focus areas in the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan.

The research contributes to the ongoing development of MSD’s Concerning Sexual Ideation Service so it’s responsive to the needs of a diverse range of clients.

Content warning

This research report relates to child sexual abuse.

If you, or anyone you know, is affected by sexual violence or abuse, please reach out to any of the services below for support and assistance.

• Safe to talk - 0800 044 334, free text 4334, webchat and info at www. safetotalk.nz, email support@safetotalk.nz (24/7)
• Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa – support for the well-being of male survivors of sexual abuse www.malesurvivor.nz
• Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 for migrant or refugee women living with family violence (24/7)
• Women’s Refuge Crisis line – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family (24/7)

If you, or anyone you know, have concerns regarding sexual behaviour or thoughts, please reach out to any of these services for support and assistance:

• Safe to talk - 0800 044 334, free text 4334, webchat and info at www. safetotalk.nz, email support@safetotalk.nz (24/7)
• Wellstop - 04 566 4745 whānau-centred treatment services for adults who have engaged in harmful or abusive sexual behaviour or have concerns about their behaviour and thoughts.
• Safe Network - 09 377 9898 provides specialised therapeutic services for concerning and harmful sexual behaviour towards or involving children and minors.
• STOP - 03 353 0257 provides whānau-centred support and therapy to adults, adolescents and children who have engaged in, or are demonstrating, concerning or harmful sexual behaviour.

Reports

_{1. Ministry of Justice (2016). Number of people convicted of sexual offences against a child or young person (aged under 16 years) in 2015, by offending history. Unpublished dataset prepared for S. Christofferson.}