Why a Global Manifesto?
Sexual violence against children is one of the most urgent human rights issues of our time. It affects children of all genders and backgrounds, shaped by identity, circumstance, and context. Yet too often, the specific experiences of boys are left out of the picture.
The Global Manifesto is a collective call to action to change that. It brings together voices from across regions and sectors to reimagine how we protect boys from sexual violence—and, in doing so, expand care for all children. It demands change that is rooted in children's rights, gender equity, and survivor-centred care.
What Are We Calling For?
The Manifesto sets out bold yet practical steps toward more inclusive prevention, response and mitigation systems. It calls on all relevant sectors to:
- Acknowledge that boys can be victims and survivors of sexual violence
- Respond with survivor-centred, age-appropriate, and rights-based approaches
- Recognise boys in all their diversity, across different identities, backgrounds, and experiences
- Integrate responses for boys into broader child protection and gender equality efforts
- Collaborate across sectors and systems to improve data, services, and accountability
Who Is the Manifesto For?
From practitioners to policymakers, this document is intended for anyone working to protect children. It offers a shared foundation to:
- Frame conversations about sexual violence against boys with an intersectional lens
- Challenge limiting stereotypes about masculinity and boys' survivorhood
- Offer a framework on how protecting boys from sexual violence can be an additional tool to reduce gender-based violencee
- Strengthen policies, programmes, and services with inclusive and survivor-informed guidance
We hope the Manifesto can be used to open space for dialogue, influence strategy, and guide action.
Whether you're delivering frontline services, designing a programme for boys, or shaping policies, this Manifesto can help ensure boys are not left out of conversations on sexual violence.
The Technical Document: A Deeper Look
Looking to go further? The Technical Document offers a more detailed look at issues related to sexual violence against boys, including:
- Key concepts that inform this work
- Data and research on sexual violence against boys
- The complexities of addressing sexual violence against boys in different contexts
Together, the Manifesto and Technical Document provide a strategic vision and a practical foundation to advance the protection of boys from sexual violence globally while contributing to the fight against gender based violence.
Who's Behind the Manifesto?
The Global Manifesto was developed through a year-long collaborative process by the GAPB. It reflects the voices and expertise of survivor-led, LGBTQIA+, youth-led, Indigenous-led, and child-focused organisations, alongside advocates working across child protection, gender-based violence, and human rights.
We're deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time, insights, and experiences. This Manifesto is stronger because of the diversity of perspectives behind it.
Read it. Share it. Use it.
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Let's work together to build stronger protection systems for children.
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