In a recent interview with La Tercera Julia Korkman highlights the global prevalence of online child sexual abuse, particularly affecting adolescent girls, and stresses the need for adults to create safe, trusting environments where children feel comfortable discussing their online experiences. She advocates for comprehensive sexual education that includes discussions on consent and digital safety and calls for greater accountability from technology companies in protecting young users. She also emphasizes the importance of addressing online child sexual abuse among minors through education and communication rather than punitive measures like confiscating phones. She notes that such actions can deter victims from reporting abuse due to fear of losing access to their devices.
During her visit to Chile, facilitated by the Fundación Amparo y Justicia, Korkman trained over 400 justice system professionals on conducting respectful and effective interviews with child victims of sexual crimes. She commended Chile's implementation of the Videotaped Interviews Law, aligning with scientific recommendations for interviewing minors.
Addressing online child sexual abuse requires a collaborative effort among adults, institutions, and technology platforms to provide children with the necessary tools and support to navigate the digital world safely.
HEUNI has been working towards victim-sensitive encounters and evidence-based investigative interviews particularly in the context of the ongoing EU-funded project ELPIS as well as through collaborating with the COST Implemendez project.