Language plays a critical role in shaping understanding, influencing public perception, and guiding professional practice—particularly in the context of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Whether drafting policy, reporting in the media, or working directly with affected individuals, professionals often face difficult questions about terminology. Is it more appropriate to use the term ‘victim’ or ‘survivor’? Is the term ‘perpetrator’ suitable in all contexts? Should we refer to ‘juvenile sex offenders’, or adopt person-first language such as ‘children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour’? These are not merely semantic debates – language has the power to either reinforce stigma and misconceptions or promote dignity, accuracy and clarity.

In 2023, ECPAT International convened an interagency working group to develop the second edition of the Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, which was officially launched in April 2025. This group brought together a diverse range of international organisations from across the criminal justice, statutory, non-profit and academic sectors, to which myself and colleagues at the Lucy Faithful Foundation were pleased to contribute. While representing a broad spectrum of perspectives and expertise, the group was united by a shared conviction: words matter.
The primary aim of these guidelines is to offer clarity and consistency in the use of terminology for practitioners, policy makers and the media. The document provides guidance on which terms you can use confidently, which you should use with caution, and which are best avoided helping ensure communication in this field is both respectful and effective.

The development of the guidelines was enriched by consultations with children, young people and adults, including those who had been subjected to child sexual abuse and exploitation. These engagements offered critical insights on victim-blaming language. They highlighted, for instance, the need to remain vigilant about language that inadvertently places blame on children for their own exploitation or abuse, the use of slang or other terms that may minimise the seriousness of harm (i.e. sextortion, child pornography or child prostitute), and the manner in which language should be communicated – with kindness, understanding and empathy.
This new edition of the guidelines reflects the evolving landscape of child sexual exploitation and abuse, with an expanded section dedicated to technology-facilitated forms of harm. It recognises that technology is now inter-woven into daily life, and online and in-person harms frequently do not exist as separate entities. The guidelines aim to support people in navigating this shifting terrain with clarity and precision.

As more child sexual abuse prevention services are established globally, the guidelines recognise that language also matters through a prevention lens. How we describe real people who might pose a risk to children can make a huge difference in how they see themselves, and how able they feel to engage with prevention services. Engaging in these services can meaningfully help them to make lasting changes, and vitally, prevent future sexual harm to children. This is why the guidelines promote the use of person-first language to separate some-one’s identity (the core of who they are) from their abusive actions, for example, referring to a ‘person who has committed (or been convicted of ) a sexual offence against a child’ rather than labelling them as a ‘sex offender’. This is a way of acknowledging harm whilst placing behaviour in the past. This reframing matters: it reduces shame and stigma, which can be blockers to lasting change. It helps people on their journey towards developing a positive identity, which is key to desistance.

These guidelines encourage not only the careful selection of appropriate terminology, but also the consideration of context. Considering con-text ensures clarity, supports effective communi-cation, and ultimately strengthens efforts to pro-tect children and prevent harm. Looking ahead, a key next step could helpfully be exploring how this work can more effectively engage the wider public – shaping everyday language in ways that contribute to greater awareness, accountability, and the prevention of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

You can access the guidelines at ecpat.org/ter-minology/

Sian Meader
Deputy Director of Operations
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation

References
Arendt, H. (1958). The Human Condition. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.