Global Alliance for the Protection of Boys from Sexual Violence

The Global Manifesto for the Protection of Boys from Sexual Violence

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The Global Alliance for the Protection of Boys from Sexual Violence (GAPB) is a collective of international and local organisations committed to addressing all forms of sexual violence affecting boys in diverse contexts. Our work goes hand in hand with the fight against gender-based violence affecting women and girls.

Together, we strive for a world where every child, free from harm, can look towards a future filled with hope and possibility.

Our Objectives

Through pioneering evidence-generation, advocacy, and the promotion of effective locally developed prevention, mitigation and response strategies, we aim to influence systemic change in all relevant sectors to ensure that all boys are protected from sexual violence. Our objectives are to:

Deepen knowledge and understanding

We strive to deepen the understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual violence against boys to inform prevention, mitigation, and response strategies and practices. By promoting evidence-based and locally-led approaches, we aim to support practitioners, decision-makers and donors to understand the different nuances and manifestations of sexual violence against boys in a given context, including risk factors, and its impact and consequences, through formative, exploratory research

Integrate the issue into the work of relevant sectors for the protection of children from sexual violence

Through strategic global advocacy, we aim to integrate the issue of sexual violence against boys into the work of relevant sectors for the protection of children from sexual violence. The GABP works towards transforming the capacity of child protection stakeholders to understand and address the issue, and to provide a platform where all concerned stakeholders can access knowledge and solution-oriented tools and approaches;

Deconstruct rigid gender norms and ideas of masculinities

Our objective is to shift the narrative about boy survivorhood and challenge harmful biases and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence against boys. Through campaigns, research, and key resources, we aim to challenge misconceptions about boys and sexual violence and harmful ideas about boys’ survivorhood, with a specific focus on stereotypes affecting boys from marginalised communities.

Foster societies and child protection systems that promote gender equity

Our work goes hand in hand with broader efforts to address gender-based violence against women and girls. We will join forces in mobilising and advocating decision-makers and donors to increase funding for interventions that aim at challenging male privilege, heteronormative frameworks and power dynamics that negatively affect women and children.

Our Members

The Global Alliance for the Protection of Boys from Sexual Violence was established by a core group of international and local organisations with complementary expertise on the issue of sexual violence against boys. Our action is guided by the Steering Committee and hosted by ECPAT International, which acts as the coordinator and convener of the Global Alliance, with all members having equal weight.

The Steering Committee oversees all Global Alliance activities, carrying out the initiatives envisioned in the Global Alliance advocacy action plan, developing an annual work plan, and reporting on its achievements.